Anyone know how to merge a series of shots?

[jacobovs]

I have a series of shots of a kid kicking a soccer ball. I wanted to layer these one on top of the other so it's one shot. Anyone know how I can do this?

[OldClicker]

What software? Were they all taken from the exact same place (same background)? Tripod? - TF

[mjs1973]

Sounds like a job for some layers and masking. You could use Photoshop if you have it. The tricky part is going to be getting a good mask around the kid, but it's doable. If you could post a few of images you want combined, we could be a little more specific.

[jacobovs]

What software? Were they all taken from the exact same place (same background)? Tripod? - TF

It's basically a kid running toward a ball , then kicking it. I want to have all of the images in one. Sort of the kind people do with strobes where you see multiple exposures on the same photo.

I'll post a couple so you have an idea what I mean.

[Rick_R]

It's basically a kid running toward a ball , then kicking it. I want to have all of the images in one. Sort of the kind people do with strobes where you see multiple exposures on the same photo.

I'll post a couple so you have an idea what I mean.

I do not know if this is what you are looking for, but this is a quick n' dirty attempt:



This is just taking each photo and putting each one sequentially (as a different layer) on one photo. The difficulty that is easy to see is that the camera moved (just a little bit) between each frame (notice the goal cross-bar in the background?). If you are going to do these types of photos of a stationary object (Ball), you really need to have a tripod. Additionally, all the different frames need to be the same size (number of pixels not inches). You should be able to do this fairly easily with Photshop or Elements.

If you are looking for an photo with the person moving through space like this:



You need to have the subject moving through space to allow for the different captures to have space to display. I do not know how to this with your frames; as there is not enough room for between the ball and the boy to show multiple copies of the boy kicking the ball.

Sorry if I confused you. Any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Regards
Rick

[jacobovs]

I do not know if this is what you are looking for, but this is a quick n' dirty attempt:



This is just taking each photo and putting each one sequentially (as a different layer) on one photo. The difficulty that is easy to see is that the camera moved (just a little bit) between each frame (notice the goal cross-bar in the background?). If you are going to do these types of photos of a stationary object (Ball), you really need to have a tripod. Additionally, all the different frames need to be the same size (number of pixels not inches). You should be able to do this fairly easily with Photshop or Elements.

If you are looking for an photo with the person moving through space like this:



You need to have the subject moving through space to allow for the different captures to have space to display. I do not know how to this with your frames; as there is not enough room for between the ball and the boy to show multiple copies of the boy kicking the ball.

Sorry if I confused you. Any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Regards
Rick

Thanks that's very helpful. I have CS4, which tool allows me to do this? The effect I was looking for was the second one in your example. The pics will all be the same size. They are different in my posting because I cropped and resized for the posting.

Shal

[Rick_R]

Thanks that's very helpful. I have CS4, which tool allows me to do this? The effect I was looking for was the second one in your example. The pics will all be the same size. They are different in my posting because I cropped and resized for the posting.

Shal

Shal: the difficulty with the second style and your photos is that there is not enough room to fit all of the versions of the boy kicking in the space between the first and last photo. At least with my knowledge of PS (Photoshop), If somebody else can see a way to do this (Multiple subjects in a single frame within a tight space) I would sure like to learn how to do it.

For most of my multiple frame within a single photo, I will start with a base layer (typically at the start of the sequence) and then cut and paste the desired additional parts onto new layers with adjustment layers and masks to help blend in the additional parts (I making the assumption that you know how to use layers, adjustment layers and masks in PS)

To make the composite photo like my example:
1. Have three photos from the same perspective, exposure and size
2. Start with the first photo as the base layer
3. Cut the rider out of the second photo via a selection (freehand) and a copy command
4. Paste the copied selection to a new layer in the first photo and then move the selection to its desired spot with the move tool.
5. Use a levels adjustment layer and a soft edged mask to blend the new layer's edges into the first photos background
6. Repeat the select / copy / paste / mask for the third photo selection on to the first photo.

Actually, it took longer to type this out than it did to create my example. It also helps that I have a plain sky background.

Hopefully this helps and does not confuse you. Any questions, please feel free to ask

Regards
Rick