[QUEEN OF HEARTS ...]

When the Panorama option has finished aligning the images it will have no idea as to the 'best bits' it should be including in the final result. In the image above it has decided that neither the boy nor the dog need to be looking at the camera. Notice how the layer masks, yes layer masks in Image layers in Elements, are concealing the best bits of each image. Fear not, for we can modify these layer masks so we do get the bits we want.





Clear both of the layer masks by clicking on each one in turn and then filling them with white. If white is the foreground color hold down the Alt key while pressing the Backspace key. Then choose the brush tool and paint with black into the mask to shield any of the pixels you do not want to see on this layer.

This may seem like a novel approach to montage in Elements as we are now enjoying layer masks without having to hijack one on an adjustment layer. You will need to crop the image to finish your project. If you can see the value of this technique then you will quickly realize that taking multiple shots the next time you are presented with a group (or even just one man and his best friend) ensures the decisive moment is history (sorry Henri).

There is a third automated feature in the Photomerge bag of tricks called Photomerge Faces. The results are often delightfully random, even though you are supposed to define the bits you want merged.





In the example above the boy's eyes have been merged seamlessly into the girl's face whilst in the lower of the two examples Photomerge has happily lifted the nose and lower portion of the ears in the source image in order to achieve a seamless stitch. Great fun (if slightly disturbing) - absolutely no commercial value - but will keep the kids amused for hours!

 

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