How to make a composite portrait in Adobe Photoshop.

How to make a composite portrait in Adobe Photoshop.

Blend photos and fabric patterns for the ultimate fashion design.

  1. Step 1: Cut out your object.

    Select the Model layer and choose the Object Selection tool. Then click Select Subject and Select and Mask to open a workspace where you can refine the selection.

  2. Step 2: Clean up your selection.

    The Select and Mask workspace has multiple View Modes. Choose the one that allows you to best see your selection as you work. Then, click Refine Hair to include the detailed edges of the model’s hair in the selection and click OK.

  3. Step 3: Tailor your selection.

    Click and hold the Object Selection tool to find the Quick Selection tool. Use the add and subtract options in the top menu to refine your selection even further. We added back parts of the model’s hat and subtracted the lower right part of her jacket. See the before and after of our selection refinements below.

  4. Step 4: Cut it out.

    With the Model layer selected, click the mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

  5. Step 5: Reflect on the style.

    Click the image thumbnail on the Model layer. Then, use the Quick Selection tool again to select the lenses.

     

    To fill the sunglasses with the pattern from the layer below, make sure the mask thumbnail is still selected, then right-click, choose Fill, set the Contents to Black, and click OK. Use Control + D (Windows) or Command + D (MacOS) to deselect the lenses.

  6. Step 6: Prepare the fabric.

    Use the Move tool to center the subject on the Model layer. Then, make the top layer visible, click the mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel, and press Control + I or Command + I to invert the mask from white to black.

  7. Step 7: Cut your pattern.

    Use the Quick Selection tool to select the jacket and accessories. Then, click the mask on the top layer, right-click, select Fill, and fill the selection on the layer mask with White.

  8. Step 8: Add some style.

    Click the Layer Style button and choose Inner Shadow.

  9. Step 9: Add some dimension.

    Fine-tune your shadow to add depth to the edge. See below for the settings we liked.

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