In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to create a stunning double exposure effect using Adobe Photoshop. Double exposure is a creative technique that combines two images into one, often blending a portrait with natural elements like trees, landscapes, or cityscapes for an artistic, dreamlike result. Originally a film photography accident, it’s now easily achievable digitally.
This method leverages Photoshop’s powerful tools, including the Object Selection Tool available in versions 2020 and later, making the process quick and beginner-friendly. We’ll use free stock images to demonstrate, but feel free to experiment with your own photos.
What’s “Double Exposure”
To understand the concept of this tutorial, it is important to get to know what “Double Exposure” is.
Essentially, Double Exposure is a special technique used by photographers that combine two exposures into one single image. The function is available in many modern DSLR cameras.
Photoshop on the other hand, provides a more creative way of creating & editing double-exposure images. With the latest release of Photoshop, it has made things a lot easier.
Most double exposure effect in Photoshop are consist of a human portrait plus natural elements such as water, fire, or trees – this is what we will be creating in this tutorial.
Final Result Preview
This is the final double exposure effect which we will be creating: (click to enlarge)
Stock Images Required
To complete this tutorial, you will need to the following stocks:
- Our model – Nymph 2 – stock by Mirish
- Nature stock
Step 1
Load the model stock image into Photoshop. We will be cut out the model from the rest of the photo with the object selection tool:
Go to the “Object Selection Tool”, and draw a selection around the model:
Draw a selection around the model – this video below shows how to perform this action:
Once the model is selected, we can create a new layer and place the model on it:
Tidy up the edge of the model with a small, hard eraser.
Step 3
We will work the double exposure effect in this step. Apply the following image adjustments to the new model layer:
Black and White
Levels
Load the nature stock image into Photoshop, copy and paste it over to our document, cover the entire canvas:
Right-click on this new nature layer and choose “Create Clipping Mask”:
Set the layer blend mode to “Screen” for this nature layer:
On the nature layer, use a soft eraser to fade the area where the face is to reveal it:
And this is the overall effect so far:
I further apply some colour adjustments and added background by using the nature stock image, and this is my final result: (click to enlarge)
Additional Tips and Tricks for Mastering Double Exposure in Photoshop
To elevate your double exposure creations, here are five essential tips and tricks to make your work stand out:
- Choose Complementary Images: Select a high-contrast portrait silhouette and a textured overlay (e.g., forests or cityscapes) to ensure clean blending and a cohesive story.
- Experiment with Blending Modes: Beyond Screen, try Overlay for intensity or Multiply for darker effects; stack multiple modes at varying opacities for depth.
- Use Gradient Masks: Apply a gradient (black to white) on the layer mask for smooth transitions, like fading the overlay at the edges for a polished look.
- Color Grade for Mood: Add a Hue/Saturation or Color Balance Adjustment Layer to unify tones, such as cool blues for mystery or warm oranges for energy.
- Incorporate Text or Graphics: Blend rasterized text (e.g., quotes) into the exposure with Screen mode for creative poster or album cover designs.
That’s for this tutorial! Hope you enjoy it and learnt a thing or two about double exposure effect in Photoshop. If you wish to explore this effect further, check out some of our other tutorials on this: