The double exposure effect is a classic image editing technique that was originally developed by analog photography by exposing the same photo film twice. In this tutorial, we'll show you how you can create it using Pixelmator Pro!
If you'd like to follow along with the tutorial, you can download the project files here.
[Video Tutorial] How to create a double exposure effect
2021-06-01 11:46:15
Glad you liked it, Tali. If you get to try the tutorial, we'd love to see what double exposure images you come up with!
2021-07-05 19:05:37
Awesome-thank you so much
2021-11-18 05:23:12
This create clipping mask is not working. I have all three layers, my image, building image on top and white background.
2021-11-18 08:35:47
@Adnan khan can you show a screenshot of the layers sidebar, what you have so far?
2021-11-18 09:04:00
Yep, a screenshot would be great. In the meantime, a few simple troubleshooting tips here:
1. Double-check the order of layers. It looks like yours is already correct but just in case, the layers would have to go like this:
Building layer
Portrait layer
Background layer
2. See on which layer you're performing the Create Clipping Mask action. It should be the top-most (building) layer.
3. Make sure the portrait and the building layers overlap. If they're in different sections of the canvas, the clipping mask won't be visible.
1. Double-check the order of layers. It looks like yours is already correct but just in case, the layers would have to go like this:
Building layer
Portrait layer
Background layer
2. See on which layer you're performing the Create Clipping Mask action. It should be the top-most (building) layer.
3. Make sure the portrait and the building layers overlap. If they're in different sections of the canvas, the clipping mask won't be visible.
2022-03-27 17:11:06
It would be nice to have step-by-step written instructions in point form attached to the documents when following along with your document files.
Kind of like this:
Pixilmator Pro
Double Exposure Effect
- [ ] Start with first photo
- [ ] Use the quick selection tool to select all of the background that you want to delete
- [ ] Or use the quick selection tool and press SELECT SUBJECT then invert the selection to select the background you want to delete
- [ ] Press the delete key on computer to delete it
- [ ] In the quick selection tool press deselect at the bottom
- [ ] In the Layers section on the left of the window add a new layer and press D on the keyboard to set the colours of this new layer to default
- [ ] Press command and backspace to fill this layer with white
- [ ] In the layer sidebar drag this layer so it is lower that your picture layer
- [ ] Insert second photo into the document
- [ ] Reduce the opacity of this layer in the layers side bar (bottom)
- [ ] Resize and position it until you get a good looking result
- [ ] Set opacity back to 100%
- [ ] Control (right click) click this layer and choose CREATE CLIPPING MASK
- [ ] Duplicate the first photo in layers and drag it to the top of the layer list
- [ ] At the bottom of the layers list, change the OPACITY mode of this layer to LIGHTEN
- [ ] THIS NEXT STEP IS OPTIONAL to fade out the top of the subject (first photo) layer
- [ ] Add a mask to the lower subject layer
- [ ] Choose the gradient fill tool on the right sidebar (lower than the paintbrush
- [ ] Select a white to black gradient (top left in the gradient selection)
- [ ] Use the mouse to place the gradient fade on this layer making sure you are still on the lower subject layer mask in Layers sidebar
- [ ] Control click the second photo and ADD MASK to it *(you might have to merge if there is already a mask then add a second mask???)
- [ ] Choose the paint tool on the right side bar and choose a basic brush
- [ ] Set the softness of the brush to 100% and opacity to around 40%
- [ ] Set brush spacing to 15%
- [ ] Make sure the color of the brush is set to black
- [ ] Paint over the sections that you want to show
- [ ] Add a mask to the upper subject layer (the duplication of your first photo)
- [ ] Using the same brush and settings in the paint tool of right sidebar reveal parts of the second photo that you want shown
- [ ] Now select the background layer in the layers sidebar
- [ ] Choose the STYLE tool (second from the top)
- [ ] Choose FILL and use the eyedropper to select the color of the fill to match something in your picture
- [ ] Set opacity of this tool to what you want
- [ ] Select the mask on the lower subject layer
- [ ] Use the PAINT tool on the right and select color to white
- [ ] Adjust the opacity and size of your brush
- [ ] Brush over any parts of the second photo that you want seen for the final effect
- [ ] Duplicate the background layer at the bottom of the layers list and drag it to the top of the layers
- [ ] Use the STYLE tool on the right and fill the layer with the gradient of your choice
- [ ] Reduce the opacity of this layer to around 8%
- [ ] For fine tuning, select the upper subject layer (copy of the original) and use the COLOR ADJUSTMENTS TOOL (third from the top on right side) to fine tune the colors in the picture
Hope I didn't miss anything!
Kind of like this:
Pixilmator Pro
Double Exposure Effect
- [ ] Start with first photo
- [ ] Use the quick selection tool to select all of the background that you want to delete
- [ ] Or use the quick selection tool and press SELECT SUBJECT then invert the selection to select the background you want to delete
- [ ] Press the delete key on computer to delete it
- [ ] In the quick selection tool press deselect at the bottom
- [ ] In the Layers section on the left of the window add a new layer and press D on the keyboard to set the colours of this new layer to default
- [ ] Press command and backspace to fill this layer with white
- [ ] In the layer sidebar drag this layer so it is lower that your picture layer
- [ ] Insert second photo into the document
- [ ] Reduce the opacity of this layer in the layers side bar (bottom)
- [ ] Resize and position it until you get a good looking result
- [ ] Set opacity back to 100%
- [ ] Control (right click) click this layer and choose CREATE CLIPPING MASK
- [ ] Duplicate the first photo in layers and drag it to the top of the layer list
- [ ] At the bottom of the layers list, change the OPACITY mode of this layer to LIGHTEN
- [ ] THIS NEXT STEP IS OPTIONAL to fade out the top of the subject (first photo) layer
- [ ] Add a mask to the lower subject layer
- [ ] Choose the gradient fill tool on the right sidebar (lower than the paintbrush
- [ ] Select a white to black gradient (top left in the gradient selection)
- [ ] Use the mouse to place the gradient fade on this layer making sure you are still on the lower subject layer mask in Layers sidebar
- [ ] Control click the second photo and ADD MASK to it *(you might have to merge if there is already a mask then add a second mask???)
- [ ] Choose the paint tool on the right side bar and choose a basic brush
- [ ] Set the softness of the brush to 100% and opacity to around 40%
- [ ] Set brush spacing to 15%
- [ ] Make sure the color of the brush is set to black
- [ ] Paint over the sections that you want to show
- [ ] Add a mask to the upper subject layer (the duplication of your first photo)
- [ ] Using the same brush and settings in the paint tool of right sidebar reveal parts of the second photo that you want shown
- [ ] Now select the background layer in the layers sidebar
- [ ] Choose the STYLE tool (second from the top)
- [ ] Choose FILL and use the eyedropper to select the color of the fill to match something in your picture
- [ ] Set opacity of this tool to what you want
- [ ] Select the mask on the lower subject layer
- [ ] Use the PAINT tool on the right and select color to white
- [ ] Adjust the opacity and size of your brush
- [ ] Brush over any parts of the second photo that you want seen for the final effect
- [ ] Duplicate the background layer at the bottom of the layers list and drag it to the top of the layers
- [ ] Use the STYLE tool on the right and fill the layer with the gradient of your choice
- [ ] Reduce the opacity of this layer to around 8%
- [ ] For fine tuning, select the upper subject layer (copy of the original) and use the COLOR ADJUSTMENTS TOOL (third from the top on right side) to fine tune the colors in the picture
Hope I didn't miss anything!