Creatively create Polaroid splicing effect with Photoshop (1)

Introduction: In this Adobe Photoshop tutorial, we are going to learn how to take a single photo and turn it into a collage of Polaroids, each Polaroid containing a small part of the overall image. You can use this effect to many different types of images, whether it's a photo of one person or several people. It's also great for family or friends photos, vacation photos, or even as a creative effect for wedding photography.

This is a very simple photo collage, as we'll see later in the tutorial, most of the work is simply repeating the same few steps over and over until you're happy with the result.

This photo is what the Photoshop tutorial will be used for.

photoshop tutorial: raw photos.

The picture below is the effect we want after completion.

Photoshop Tutorial: Final Finished Image.

Let's get started.

Step 1: Duplicate the background layer

The first thing we want to do is duplicate our background layer. Opening the image in Photoshop we can see that in the Layers palette we currently have only one layer, the Background layer, which contains our original image: To quickly duplicate the layer, use the shortcut Ctrl +J (win)/command+ J ( Mac). Duplicate the background layer in Photoshop, name it "Layer 1", and place it on top of our background layer;

Tutorial: The original background layer is shown in the Layers palette.

To quickly copy a layer, use the shortcut key Ctrl + J (win)/command + J (Mac). Duplicate the background layer in Photoshop, name it "Layer 1", and place it on top of our background layer;

Tutorial: The Layers palette now shows a copy of the background on top of the original background layer.

Step 2: Add a new blank layer between the two layers

Next, we need to add a new blank layer between the copy of the background layer we just created and the background layer. Now, select the copy of the copy in the Layers palette (we can say the layer is selected because it is highlighted in blue). Under normal circumstances, when we add a new layer, Photoshop will place the new layer on top of our currently selected layer, but we want our new layer to be located below "Layer1", not under it. superior. Hold down the Ctrl (win/command (Mac) key, and then click the New button at the bottom of the Layers palette to let Photoshop place the new layer under "Layer 1".

Photoshop Tutorial: Hold down the "Alt" (Win) / "Option" (Mac) and click the New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette.

Add a new blank layer between "Layer 1" and the background layer and name it "Layer 2"

Step 3: Fill the new layer with black

We are going to create a black effect for the background layer. Press D on the keyboard to adjust our foreground and background colors if necessary. Set black as the foreground color and white as the background color. We can see the foreground at the bottom of the tools palette. and background color swap.

Now we select the newly created layer in the Layers Panel and use black as our foreground color. Use the shortcut keys Alt+Backspace (Win) / Option+Delete (Mac) to fill the new layer with black. The image itself will not change because "Layer 1" contains a copy of the original image, blocking "Layer 2". But if we see the thumbnail of "Layer 2" in the Layers palette we have already filled it with black.

Step 4: Add a new layer

We select "Layer 2" (just filled with black) and click the new layer icon at the bottom of the layers palette again:

Photoshop will add a new layer between the black fill layer and the background copy:

Step 5: Drag the rectangular marquee tool to select the first Polaroid photo

Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool or press M on your keyboard:

Then, select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and drag the selection within the image. The selection will become the first Polaroid photo (including part of the photo) inside the image. I'm going to select and drag the selection over the baby's face. It doesn't matter where you drag the selection because you can then move it around:

Step 6: Fill the selection with black

We're going to fill the selection with black. Technically, it doesn't matter what color fill we choose, but to keep things simple and since black is now our foreground color, we use a black fill. Make sure you have selected the new layer in the Layers palette, then use the keyboard shortcuts Alt+Backspace (Win) / Option+Delete (Mac) to fill the selection with the foreground color (black). This time the image itself will not change. This is because the layer "Layer 1" on top is still blocking the layers below, but if we look at the thumbnail of the empty layer in the layers palette, we can See that the specified area is filled with black:

Step 7: Create a clipping mask from the filled selection

We'll create a clipboard mask above the black selection we just filled. This means that this layer is above the selection, and "Layer 1" containing a copy of the background image will be clipped by the filled selection below it. In other words, in the image above "Layer 1", only a small part of the black selection is directly visible. The rest of the image will be hidden. To create the clipping mask, click and select "Layer 1" in the Layers palette. Then select Create Clipping Mask from the Layer menu at the top. You can also press the keyboard shortcut Alt+Ctrl+G (Win) / Option+Command+G (Mac). Anyway, Photoshop "clipped" the image in "Layer 1", leaving only the black filled area underneath visible, hiding the rest of the image, showing off our black background against "Layer 2" in its place. Showing our "Layer 2" with a black background in its place:

If we now look at the Layers palette, we can see that "Layer 1" is indented to the right and has a little arrow pointing down on the left. This indicates that the layer has been clipped by the layer below:

Step 8: Add another new layer on "Layer 2"

We need to add a new layer between the black fill layer ("Layer 2") and the black fill selection ("Layer 3"). To do this click on "Layer 2" to select it, then click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:

Photoshop added a new layer between "Layer 2" and "Layer 3", and surprisingly, we named it "Layer 4":

Step 9: Drag another rectangular marquee as the border of the Polaroid photo

With the Rectangular Marquee Tool still selected, drag another rectangular marquee, this time the area outside the original selection will become the white border of the Polaroid. Remember that Polaroid photos have some extra space at the bottom border, so add some extra space to the bottom:

Step 10: Fill the selection with white

Since Polaroid borders are usually white, let's choose a white fill. Make sure you have the new blank layer, "Layer 4" selected on the Layers palette. Then, since our background color is currently white, let's use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Backspace (Win) /Command+Delete (Mac) to fill it with the background color of our choice (white). Press Ctrl + D (win) / Command + D (Mac) when you are done with the above to deselect. We now have our first Polaroid photo: