Blend images in Photoshop.

Apply a pattern to part of an image to make the background and foreground exist in harmony.

  1. Tailor your selection.

    In the practice file, open the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and select the Portrait layer. Then choose the Quick Selection tool and scrub over the hands and face. Photoshop adds a selection border, known as marching ants, around each.  

    Pro tip: Add to, or subtract from, your selection with the settings in the Options bar. Then use the [ ] keys to change your brush size as you work.

    A girl wears a white hoodie. The Portrait layer is selected and a selection is made around her face and hands with the Quick Select tool.

  2. Apply a pattern.

    With the subject’s hands and face selected, select the Pattern layer and click the small box to the left of it (with the eye icon) to make it visible. The pattern now covers the entire portrait. 

    Click the box above the layers and mouse over different blend modes to see the effect they have. We like how the two layers work together when the Pattern layer is set to Multiply. 

    The girl (except for the hands and face) and background are covered by a floral pattern. The Pattern layer has a mask thumbnail.

  3. Let them see.

    To remove the pattern from the subject’s hands and face, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) as you click the Mask button. This creates an inverted mask that hides the part of the Pattern layer within the selection.

  4. Share your creation.

    Choose File > Export > Export As to share your composition or use it in another project. Use the File Settings to specify the image format, size, and scale you need.

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