Creating a Double Exposure Composite

The double exposure combines two images into a surreal blend where a portrait merges with a landscape or texture.

Choosing Your Images

Strong silhouette image plus a detailed texture or landscape. Portraits with clear outlines work best. High contrast in both images produces stronger results.

Prepare the Portrait

Remove the background. Convert to black and white. Increase contrast. This tonal range drives the blending.

Place the Overlay Image

Drag the landscape into the document. Position so the most interesting part aligns with the face area.

Apply the Blend Mode

Set the overlay to Screen. Dark areas of the portrait become transparent, revealing the overlay. Light areas remain visible.

Clip the Overlay

Hold Alt and click between layers to create a clipping mask. The overlay is visible only within the portrait shape.

Refine

Add a layer mask to the overlay. Paint with black to hide unwanted parts. Adjust opacity. Add a solid color background to complete the look.

Variations

Try Multiply mode to reverse the effect. Use two overlays for triple exposure. Add a gradient map for unified color.