Photoshop help needed:How do I combine multiple photos?

[Curious Yellow]

Hi all,

I've got a question for you image manipulators out there. I think it should be something fairly straightforward and was done as a competition entry by a forummer a while back but I cannot figure out how to do it myself

I'm trying to combine 3 images taken using a tripod of the same scene. The only difference in each photo is the subject has moved to a different location in the frame in each photo. What I'm trying to do is combine all three photos into a single one with the same background but with the subject in 3 positions. Basically, I'm trying to do show the different positions the subject is in throughout the action.

I know I should probably be using layers in Photoshops but I haven't been able to put my finger on it. I don't want to extract and paste the subject from each photo, but do it using different layers. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do this I will be very grateful to you!

Thank you.

[noshoulders]

An understanding of layers is exactly what you need.
in quick easy steps.
Open all three images. with any of them, go to "edit", "select all". Then "edit", "copy". Then "file", "new", "ok". This will create you a blank canvas the same size as your image.

If you then go, "window", "arrange", "tile horizontally", that will make it so you can see all the images at once.

Now you need the layers tab, press F7 if you can't find it. now click your first image. Drag the layer from the "layers" tab onto your blank document. Repeat this for all three.

Now click your combined document and you'll see all three layers in the layers tab. You can click the little eye icon to make the layer visible/hidden.

Click the layer at the top of the layer tab, and then choose the lasso tool from the toolbox. now roughly draw around the person in the image on the top layer that you want to keep. Then go "select", "inverse" and hit the backspace key. This will clear the background for that layer and should reveal the layer underneath.

Choose the middle layer from the layers tab, and repeat!

If you need to align any of the layers, maybe because the tripod moved very slightly, choose the layer you want to move, select the 'move' tool from the toolbox, and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard.

[senu]

Have a look
Some Digital Montages

[noshoulders]

how are you getting on with this curious?

need any more help?

[Curious Yellow]

I was away from my PC over the weekend pretty soon after I started this thread and I've only just been able to check this. Thanks for the replies though. I will definitely let you know how I get on with this!
Sorry it's taken so long to reply, the help is much appreciated!

[Curious Yellow]

The technique advised worked like a charm! Thanks guys!