5 Ways to Overlay Images

Table of contents:

5 Ways to Overlay Images
5 Ways to Overlay Images

Video: 5 Ways to Overlay Images

Video: 5 Ways to Overlay Images
Video: How Change The Font Size in Windows 10 2024, November
Anonim

This wikiHow teaches you how to place an image on top of another using a free application on Windows and Mac computers. Image overlays can be anything from placing one image on top of another to creating a collage with multiple images.

Step

Method 1 of 5: Setting Up Overlays

Overlay Pictures Step 1
Overlay Pictures Step 1

Step 1. Try using PineTools

If you just want to create a simple collage using different transparencies, you can do so using online tools without the need to download and install GIMP.

You can't use PineTools to insert a new photo, such as a celebrity, into a base photo to make people believe that the edit is a real photo

Overlay Pictures Step 2
Overlay Pictures Step 2

Step 2. Place all photos in one location

This makes it easier for you to select them when you want to add photos to be used as layers in the project you are working on.

You may have to make a copy of the photo to use. How to do it: select the photo you want, press Ctrl+C (on Windows) or Command+C (for Mac), then paste it where you normally use it, like the desktop

Overlay Pictures Step 3
Overlay Pictures Step 3

Step 3. Find out the main image size

Once you've determined the image you want to use as the background in your final edit, find the image's width and height (in pixels) so you can create a canvas of the same size. How to do it:

  • Windows - Right click on the photo, select Properties, click Details, and look for the number to the right of the " Dimensions " heading (you may need to scroll down).
  • Mac - Select a photo by clicking on it, click File, choose Get Info, and check the " Dimensions " heading in the " More Info " section (you may have to click on the heading More Info first).
Overlay Pictures Step 4
Overlay Pictures Step 4

Step 4. Download and install GIMP

Depending on the operating system you are using, do the following:

  • Windows - Go to https://www.gimp.org/downloads/, then click Download GIMP directly, double-click the setup file you downloaded, then follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Mac - Go to https://download.gimp.org/mirror/pub/gimp/v2.8/osx/ using a web browser on a computer, click the link gimp-2.8.10-dmg-1.dmg, double click the DMG file, then click and drag the GIMP logo into the " Applications " folder, then follow the instructions given.

    On a Mac, you may need to verify your installation before you can install GIMP

Overlay Pictures Step 5
Overlay Pictures Step 5

Step 5. Run GIMP

After installing GIMP, continue the process by opening this app. Next, you can start overlaying the photos:

  • Windows - Click Start

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    type gimp, and select GIMP at the top.

  • Mac - Click Spotlight

    Macspotlight
    Macspotlight

    type gimp, click GIMP twice, then click Open when requested.

Method 2 of 5: Crop Photos

Overlay Pictures Step 6
Overlay Pictures Step 6

Step 1. Open the photo you want to crop

This is the photo that will be placed on top of the base photo. How to open a photo:

  • Click File
  • choose Open…
  • Select the desired photo.
  • Click Open
Overlay Pictures Step 7
Overlay Pictures Step 7

Step 2. Add an alpha channel to the photo

This lets you save the cropped portion of a photo as clip art instead of as a cropped photo on a white background. How to add an alpha channel:

  • Click Layers
  • choose Transparency
  • Click Add Alpha Channel
Overlay Pictures Step 8
Overlay Pictures Step 8

Step 3. Open the "Free Select" tool

Press the "M" key on your computer keyboard, or do any of the following:

  • Click Tools
  • choose Selection Tools
  • Click Free Select
Overlay Pictures Step 9
Overlay Pictures Step 9

Step 4. Draw a line around the part you want to keep

Click and drag the mouse around the part of the photo that you want to add to the base photo.

  • You can get better accuracy by repeatedly clicking on the line around the selected part instead of dragging the mouse.
  • You must connect the end of the line to the beginning of the line in order to continue the process.
Overlay Pictures Step 10
Overlay Pictures Step 10

Step 5. Select the reverse of the selection

To highlight everything except the section you want, select the section by pressing M, then press Ctrl+I (on Windows) or Command+I (for Mac).

Overlay Pictures Step 11
Overlay Pictures Step 11

Step 6. Remove the reverse

Do this by pressing Del (Windows) or Command+X (Mac). Everything will be erased, except the selected part, leaving the background like a chessboard.

Overlay Pictures Step 12
Overlay Pictures Step 12

Step 7. Save the photo

Since the photo will be saved as a GIMP file (not-p.webp

Save As. How to do it:

  • Click File
  • Click Save As…
  • Name the file, then save it in the same location as the base photo.
  • Click Save
Overlay Pictures Step 13
Overlay Pictures Step 13

Step 8. Close photos that are open at this point

Do this by clicking X in the top right corner of the project window (at the top left on a Mac). When the photo is closed, the GIMP window remains open and empty. At this point, you can continue the process by overlaying the image.

Method 3 of 5: Overlaying Images

Overlay Pictures Step 14
Overlay Pictures Step 14

Step 1. Make a blank canvas the same size as the base photo

Open a new project with the same dimensions as the base photo:

  • Click File
  • Click New…
  • Fill in the text fields " Width " (width) and " Height " (height).
  • Click OK
Overlay Pictures Step 15
Overlay Pictures Step 15

Step 2. Open the base photo and the cropped photo

By opening the two photos as layers, you can align them with each other. How to do it:

  • Click File
  • Click Open as Layers…
  • Select a photo location on the left.
  • Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking the photo's name.
  • Click Open
Overlay Pictures Step 16
Overlay Pictures Step 16

Step 3. Move the photo layer you cropped

Do the following things to adjust the position of the cropped layer:

  • Click Tools
  • choose Transform Tools
  • Click Move
  • Click and drag the cropped layer.
Overlay Pictures Step 17
Overlay Pictures Step 17

Step 4. Resize the cropped layer

Do the following things if you want to resize the cropped image:

  • Click Tools
  • Click Transform Tools
  • Click Scale
  • Select the cropped layer.
  • Click and drag the layer to resize it.
  • Click Scale
Overlay Pictures Step 18
Overlay Pictures Step 18

Step 5. Review your edits

If your goal is to make the second image appear as if it were part of the first image, continue the process by flattening and exporting the project.

If you want to create a collage using different transparencies, continue the process to the next section

Method 4 of 5: Creating a Collage

Overlay Pictures Step 19
Overlay Pictures Step 19

Step 1. Open the Layers window

Do this by pressing Ctrl+L (for Windows) or Command+L (on Mac). The Layers window will appear at the top left. The base photo and cropped layers will be displayed inside the photo.

Overlay Pictures Step 20
Overlay Pictures Step 20

Step 2. Select the cropped layer

Select the layer preview that represents the cropped layer.

Overlay Pictures Step 21
Overlay Pictures Step 21

Step 3. Lower the layer's opacity

In the top Layers window, click the down arrow to reduce the opacity of the cropped layer.

You may have to reduce the opacity to 20 (or less) to get the desired effect

Overlay Pictures Step 22
Overlay Pictures Step 22

Step 4. Flatten the layer

Click tab Image, then select Flatten Image in the displayed drop-down menu. By doing so, all photos will be merged into 1 image.

This step is necessary so that you can export it as a single image

Overlay Pictures Step 23
Overlay Pictures Step 23

Step 5. Export the finished image

You can save the image as a-j.webp

  • Click File
  • Click Exports…
  • Name the file.
  • Specify the storage folder.
  • Click Export

Method 5 of 5: Using PineTools

Overlay Pictures Step 24
Overlay Pictures Step 24

Step 1. Visit PineTools

Launch your computer's web browser and visit

PineTools is a website that provides a service for overlaying simple images without the need for installation or complicated menus

Overlay Pictures Step 25
Overlay Pictures Step 25

Step 2. Upload the base image

Click Choose file under the " MAIN IMAGE " heading, then select the image you want to use as the main image, then click Open.

Overlay Pictures Step 26
Overlay Pictures Step 26

Step 3. Upload a photo of the coating

Click Choose file on the right side of the page under the " SECONDARY IMAGE " heading, then select the image you want to use and click Open. This image will be displayed above the first image.

Overlay Pictures Step 27
Overlay Pictures Step 27

Step 4. Scroll the screen until you reach the " OPTIONS " section

It's on the left side of the page, under the " MAIN IMAGE " section.

Overlay Pictures Step 28
Overlay Pictures Step 28

Step 5. Check the "Set transparency" box

This box is in the " OPTIONS " section. There is a " Transparency " slider under the checkbox.

Overlay Pictures Step 29
Overlay Pictures Step 29

Step 6. Drag the " Transparency " slider to the right

Doing so will make the overlaid image appear transparent.

You may have to drag the slider to 70% (or more) to get the desired effect

Overlay Pictures Step 30
Overlay Pictures Step 30

Step 7. Check other available options

For example, If you want to place the second photo in the center of the main photo, check one or both of the " Center " boxes.

Overlay Pictures Step 31
Overlay Pictures Step 31

Step 8. Click PROCESS

It's a green button at the bottom of the page. By doing so, the uploaded images will be merged with the settings that have been selected.

Overlay Pictures Step 32
Overlay Pictures Step 32

Step 9. Review the final result

In the " OUTPUT IMAGE " section on the right, the final image will be displayed according to the selected option.

You can set the options, then click PROCESS again to improve the final image.

Overlay Pictures Step 33
Overlay Pictures Step 33

Step 10. Determine the file type

Click JPG or PNG in the " OUTPUT IMAGE " section to download the overlaid image in-j.webp" />

You can also click WEBP to download files in web publishing format.

Recommended: