Adobe 29500007 - Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Manual page 43

Auto Align Layers
You can use the Auto Align Layers command in
the Edit menu to make a composite photo from
a pair of nearly identical images. This is very useful
when you want to add elements from one photo
to the other.
Photoshop aligns layers of an image based on
the pixel data of the two layers, analyzing the
pixels and aligning them appropriately. Once
similar features are found, the Auto Align Layers
command uses one layer as a reference and moves
the other layers, so that matching features overlap.
Our example shows two images of a group shot.
We prefer the way some people look in the first
shot, and the way other people look in the second.
With the layers aligned, it's very easy to mask
sections of one image and reveal the other one.
The final composite contains the best of both shots.
See Adobe Video Workshop topic, Aligning layers by content
1 Open two images you 2
would like to align. image into the other image's
file on a new layer. Shift-click
each layer to select both layers
in the Layers palette.
4 Hide and show the top layer 5
to see the alignment. Create from the tool bar and mask
a Layer Mask on the top layer unwanted areas of the top
by clicking the layer mask layer, revealing the content
button at the bottom of the of the aligned layer below.
Layers palette.
Copy and paste one 3 Go to the Edit menu and
choose Auto Align Layers.
Choose Auto from the
dialog box, and click OK.
Select the Brush tool 6 Continue masking out
areas until you are happy
with your final image.
Photoshop + Design Edition 41