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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Software Techniques, Tips, & Tricks

Photography Question 

aileen cockburn 		 

How to Make a Photo Translucent


I want to use the photo as a background for other photos. Thanks!


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September 14, 2007

 

Pete H 		  Sure,

Just dial down the "opacity" setting and save it as a new file.

Pete


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September 14, 2007

 

John Rhodes 		  Aileen, actually, you will have to decrease the opacity of the image on top in order to see through to the photo you want to use as a background. With careful layer masking, you'll be able to see both in full opacity by painting out portions of the top layer.


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September 14, 2007

 

Pete H 		  If I understood the question, Aileen wants to use a photo as a background, but not fully exposed. That is how I understood it. John is right, by the way, in that the "translucent" photo you wish to make must be reduced in opacity. The only way to do that is to make a COPY first of the background (photo) you want to use. You can then dial down the opacity of the COPY and move it to the uppermost layer.


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September 14, 2007

 

aileen cockburn 		  Thanks, guys, I have managed to do it with your help! Aileen


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September 15, 2007

 

Rich Collins 		  This question's answer seems not so obvious to me. Is there a tool selected which allows for Opacity dial down? Or is this done through another method?

Once a Copy (Duplicate?) is made, then what?


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September 18, 2007

 

Pete H 		 
 
 
Rich,

It is really not a tool. In Adobe PS it is a slider that appears above your "layers" on the right side of the screen.

When you first bring in a photo to Adobe, it is called the "background" layer. You can not adjust the opacity of this layer; so you need to make a copy of the layer. Only the (copy) can be adjusted with the opacity slider now.
Once you set the opacity as you want, you can delete the (background.) You now have a translucent photo.
If you bring in another photo, you can place it above or below the (copy) in the layers box by simply dragging and dropping.

Here is just a example of translucency. The two photos are easily reversed so one will appear over the other.

Hope this helped a little and didn't confuse you further.

Pete


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September 18, 2007

 

Rich Collins 		 
 
  Opacity of Sisters
Opacity of Sisters

Rich Collins

  
 
HI Pete, Well I finally got around to trying your example. Let's see how I did. I opened image, copied, decreased both Opacity & fill to 22, opened 2nd image, move tool. Voila. Now if I can successfully add to this text.....

Thank you Pete.


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September 23, 2007

 
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