How to: Pics Fade into Background

[scrapshabby]

I'm a bit new to digital and wondering how to achieve the look where a picture fades into a background but the background paper is still a part of it, like a transparancy. I use Photoshop Elements 8.0. Any help on this? Here is a link to a picture I found in the gallery that shows an example of what I'm trying to achieve. I hope it was okay to attach it.http://www.afterfivedesigns.com/shoppe/images/cache/360e7878bc3f04bb6cdbaf76a901c9f8.jpg

[cherryberry]

What a gorgeous layout you chose.

I don't use PSE but you basically change the blending mode and opacity of the photo you want to blend into the background. I usually use Overlay, Screen, or Multiply blend mode and then lower the opacity of the layer until it looks good. I use a low opacity soft brush to gently erase the parts of the image that I do not want.

Hope that helps a little.

[scrapshabby]

Yeah, that kind of helps a little. I'm new to Photoshop too, so I'm still trying to figure out all the functions without going through tutorials. LOL I keep thinking I'm savvy enough to figure it all out on my own, but as it turns out, there are so many techniques to learn that I'm getting overwhelmed. Hopefully I can figure that out. So do you use an overlay AND also make adjustments to the original photo? What about gradients? Does that apply here? Thanks for your help!

[cherryberry]

The only adjustment I make to the original photo is to erase parts of the image that I don't want to blend. Other than that, I just play with the different blending modes and the opacity slider until I am happy with the result. I personally don't use the gradient filter for blending. I do use it for casting shadows though. You can read about that in our Tutorial section. ;)

[say_monkey]

I love that technique too but still have not mastered the art of creating it. Even after I adjust the opacity, the edges of the picture I am trying to fade into the background is still visible. In other words, you can still see the rectangle--instead of the sample photo where all you see is the two girls. Any suggestions on how to fix that? I too am using PSE. Thanks!

[Dalis]

you have to use a soft brush and use the eraser to erase those corners.