newbie question about merging

[howard b. schwartz]

<p>when i open two images in photo shop, how do i merge one photo on top of the other so i have two layers to work with and can use auto-align and auto-blend? thanks.</p>

[new_haven]

<p>Use duplicate layer... form the top right pop up menu of the layers panel.</p>

[dd_toth]

<p>For the image you want on top, open it up and select all [Ctrl-A] copy the image [Ctrl-C], then open up the image you want to apply this to, and once its open paste the image in [Ctrl-V]. It will create it as a new layer, then you can play with the blending modes and masking to get what effect you want.</p>

<p>Or you can open the image you want to be the layer on top. Make sure you have the Layers open, Grab the actual layer of the image (most likely called the Background layer) and drag it to the other image and it will drop it in as a new layer.</p>

[Ray House]

If you have both files open, just use the Move tool, click on one image and Drag & Drop onto the other image. If you hold the Shift key while moving, the image will be centered in the new layer.

[sebastianmoran]

<p>As usual in photoshop, there are many ways to do this:<br>

If you DON'T need auto-align, </p>

<ul>

<li>Copy from one, paste onto the other. It'll be a new layer.</li>

<li>Use the Move tool from one, drag and drop with shift onto the other. Again, a new layer.</li>

</ul>

<p>If you DO want AutoAlign,</p>

<ul>

<li>File... Scripts... Load files into stack, and check "Auto-Align" (This works great.)</li>

</ul>

<p>If overlapping images from which you want to make a pano</p>

<ul>

<li>File... Automate... PhotoMerge (But, PTGui Pro does a better job)</li>

</ul>

<p>The last two are similar and ought to be in the same place. It's confusing that they are in different parts of the menu.</p>