Arranging order/layers

[Rpo2@cox.net]

I would like to insert a photo layer within a background? For example I have a background that has two individuals in it. I would like to insert a photo of another individual between them from a seperate photo.
Thank you
Roger

[Rpo2@cox.net]

Thank you, the last part of your message is exactly what I am attemping and this seems to be the answer!

(Dec 26, 2011 17:39)ofnuts Wrote:  The hard part is extracting the third individual from its original photo... There are several ways to do that but for me the best way given the subject (photo + "natural" object) is to use a layer mask to erase the background around the person, as explained here: http://gimpforums.com/thread-sihouette-a...87#pid6487

Save this image as XCF, then in the picture with the other people, use "File/Open as layers" and select the saved photo. This will add the third person as a layer in the picture.

Some problems you'll be facing are:
- not the right size: used the scale tool (). Note that you can't significantly upscale an image if you want to keep some quality.
- orientation: handheld shots are seldom perfectly upright. If you import someone from another shot with a different tilt this person will look tilted. Use the Rotate tool () to fix.
- lightings: very often the shadows don't match... sometimes you can flip the layer horizontally and noone will notice... but it's usually best to start with "compatible" images.
- tone/color problems: there are too many possibities to explain briefly here. But every problem has a cure, even if, as above, a carefully chosen picture makes work a lot easier.
- very often you will want the intested person to be in front of parts of the image, but behind other image elements (other people). The usual technique is to duplicate the orginal image as tow layers, and put the imported layer in between, then selectively erase parts of the original image.