ABSTRACT
Basic two-image compositing, or blending, involves just three steps: placing one of the images on top of the other in Photoshop, thus creating two layers; creating holes in the top layer to reveal the desired regions of the bottom layer; and merging both layers together. Two-image exposure blending can help. Most nightscape images are exposed with a maximum shutter speed of around 30 seconds or less. Another terrific set of two-image composite nightscapes are the so-called day-to-night transitions, or those involving images made during the day blended with those made at night from the same tripod position with the same focal length lens. Layer the daytime image on top of the nighttime image, create a hole in the daytime layer using a mask and the gradient tool instead of the brush, and then merge both images together. Some composites involve blends of images made at different times of day, twilight or night, or with different light painting effects.
