I’ve received a few emails and messages requesting a clones tutorial, so here it is! I’m actually writing this offline on my plane ride back to Hong Kong and will be posting this when I can get online. (How’s THAT for efficiency. Though I may or may not be watching Transformers at the same time) There are several ways to do this I’m sure, but I thought up this method ages back when I still scanned in film negatives to edit on PS. download this tutorial in PDF

Clone images that I’ve done:

You will need to know a few basics in Photoshop to edit this image including layers and masking. If you already know these fundamentals, click here to skip to the tutorial. Otherwise, read on.

Prelude: a brief introduction to layers and masking tool

Layers

Layers is exactly what it sounds like: stacking images on top of one another which you can then edit or move individually. The layers palette is usually positioned on the right-hand side of your Photoshop workspace. In the image here, I have stacked two images (duh) which I’ll use to compile the clone shot.

Masking

Masking is an incredibly useful tool within Photoshop. It allows you to selectively determine the opacity of one layer with another. The image on the left can be found at the bottom of the layers palette, and the masking tool has been hi-lighted in red. The image on the right shows the layer once the mask has been selected. In order to selectively modify the transparency of the layer, simply select the brush tool (or hit B) and paint over the image. Painting over the image in black causes the image to become transparent. Painting in white turns it back to opaque.

The tutorial

This image is complied of a series of similar shots – one for each of the clones. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’m using just a few of the top of the escalator.

Step 1: select images to be used to compile your clones (and some helpful tips) Open your images up in PS: You’ll notice that the key is to shoot the same image repeatedly with the subject positioned differently in each shot. The idea is to simply stack the images one on top another, and then selectively modify the transparency to allow the image below to bleed through. You can either do this with the eraser tool, or using the masking tool. I prefer using the masking tool because if I make a mistake, I can always back-track by painting over the image in white, whereas this is much harder to reverse if you erase the layer.

This was shot in the National Museum of Singapore, and I wasn’t allowed to use a tripod, however your life will be a lot easier if you use one. Not only because it allows you to do self-portraits, but because you won’t have to spend ages aligning the images (as I had to do for this shot). Start by picking an image that will be your “base”. I suggest starting sequentially either from the background or foreground and working your way through the series systematically.

Step 2: beginning with background, layer your images on top of one another

Here you can see I’ve laid two images on top another and adjusted them so they are roughly in line. If you have shot the series with a tripod – this isn’t a problem. However if you had to eye-ball this one, simply lower the opacity of the top image so you can roughly see how they line up and then move the image on top accordingly.

Step three: fill mask with black to make the image on top transparent

Select mask tool on the top image and fill it with black to make the top transparent. Since the backgrounds of the images are roughly the same, you will only need to “paint in” the additional clone building upon the image at the bottom of your layers.

Step four: paint masking layer with white to allow “clones” to show through

With the masking layer still selected, use the brush tool and paint over the top layer in white to allow the clone on top (currently see-through) to show through. Anything you paint in white will cause the top image to sit on top of the bottom image, while the rest of the top image remains transparent. If you make a mistake, simply paint over the mask again in black. (An advantage over erasing the images)

Step five: lather, rinse, repeat.

And… there you have it! Continue to layer each image, and selectively adjusting the opacity with the layer mask until you have compiled your clones. Remember to flatten your image (layer > flatten image) once you’re done.

Now you too can thwart the one-child policy.

download this in PDF

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Tags: clones, tutorial