Putting Parts of a photo together

[Donamai]

Hi,

Could anyone give me some advice in how to put parts of a picture together?

I have two identical pictures that
I would like to combine

One is cut, burned, and old and it has no
straight corners but has a lot of details.

The other one has a cut in the middle and
has detail that the other one does not have.

I have been trying to combine the layers but
I never get them straigh or in place. One is either
too big for the other or too short.

I know it could be a very simple techique but since
I never retouch pictures it's taking me a lot of time
trying to adjust just that.

ok. let me know if you guys have any idea.

[Gary Richardson]

Hi Donamai, it would help if you could post larger images. Instead of posting one image made up of both pictures, try posting each image seperately, then we'll have more to work with.

[Leah]

As Gary said, it's hard to be specific with such low-res images.

As general points, though --

1. You have three bits of photo so have them on three different layers. And erase/mask out anything that isn't photograph -- roughly torn edges, black background, etc., so that you are matching like with like (see screenshot).

2. Don't think of it as precisely matching the entirety of the two photographs. Think of it as using the two pieces of torn photograph to patch the missing areas of the intact photograph.

3. Basic approach -- have the main intact photograph on the top layer and the two parts of the torn photograph on two separate layers below. Move the lower layer so that it is pretty much in the correct place to show through the gaps in the upper layer. Then switch the blend mode of the upper layer to Difference, zoom in and do some fine-tuning on positioning. At this point you'll probably also need to do some slight resizing of the lower layer using Free Transform. Remember you are trying to get it to match up for the missing area you are replacing -- don't worry too much about the rest of the photograph (which ideally should match as well, but the important thing is to get the bit you are repairing looking right). Switch the blend mode of the upper layer back to Normal. Now do the same with the other lower layer. Then crop image.

Another general observation -- always scan in full colour even if an image is black and white. You get much more detail that way. This appears to have been scanned as a grayscale image.

[Gary Richardson]

I use a slightly different method to Leah, but the general principles she outlined still apply. I differ in that I patch over the top and mask to fit in with base picture. Have attached a quick attempt with your original postings, but as i said before, larger images will give better results.

[Donamai]

Originally Posted by Gary Richardson

Hi Donamai, it would help if you could post larger images. Instead of posting one image made up of both pictures, try posting each image seperately, then we'll have more to work with.

I did not think that they were so small but here they are again. Thank you guys. I actually tried the free transform but I was so hard-minded that I wanted to do it that way only to match them perfectly.
I have to change the way I approach these things now!

Are these big enough?


thank you!!

[Leah]

Following the principles I outlined earlier, plus doing some additional patching for a couple of the other holes, then doing some general restoration (obviously you could take this further)...

[Gary Richardson]

This is my attempt with the larger images.

[Donamai]

I cannot move on without saying thank you....


I appreciate your tips. I definetely need to practice my retouching skills.
You guys make it look so simple that I am amaze on how this thing on retouching really becomes an art.

Thank you Gary and Leah!!!