Photoshop Project: Frankenface (2024)

An older version of this project that uses a different method can be found here.

Walkthrough

Instructions

Choose two faces.

Pick two faces that are looking in as close to the same direction as possible. The effect works best with faces that have fairly similar skin tones. If you’ve never done this project before, it’s easiest to start with two faces that are looking straight ahead.

Open both images in Photoshop.

Choose the image that will be the main face.

I’m going to use Vin Diesel.

In the Layer panel, double click the background layer to convert it to a standard layer.

Give the layer a meaningful name and select OK.

Select the second image.

Select the lasso tool.

Lasso the area around the object to want to copy.

Don’t get too close! The blend tool works better if it has more to work with.

Copy the lassoed object.

You can use the menu bar or press command-c.

Switch to the main image.

Paste in the lassoed object.

You can use the menu bar or command-v.

On the layer menu, turn down the opacity of the new layer.

The exact number doesn’t matter. It just needs to be low enough so you can see both layers.

You’ll get something like this.

Adjust the object’s size and position with Free Transform.

You can either press command-t or go to Edit/Free Transform on the top menu.

I alays use command-t, but it’s the same thing.

Place the object.

Reset the opacity to 100%.

The colors probably won’t match yet.

Select both layers.

From the top menu, select Edit>Auto-Blend Layers.

Make sure Stack Images, Seamless Tones and Colors, and Content Aware Fill Transparent Areas are selected and click OK.

Photoshop will recolor the top layer and add masks to each layer. It will probably make mistakes.

In this example, both eyes are visible.

If Photoshop creates a merged layer, delete it.

Make sure the merged layer is selected and press delete or click the trash can at the bottom of the layer palette.

Select the mask for the object layer, and use the brush tool to fix any problems.

On the mask of a layer, black hides and white reveals. Paint with white on any parts of the layer that can’t be seen and you want visible.

If needed, you can use the healing brush to fix other issues.

Make a new layer above the other layers. Set the tool to sample all layers, and set the brush hardness to 0. Don’t overuse it or you’ll see the repair lines!

Finished sample

Notes

If you want to add more than one object, the tool works better if you merge the first object with the background before adding a new layer.

If you are using a Windows-based machine, you would use the Ctrl key instead of the command key (Ctrl-C to copy, etc.).