Let's get to work!
Step 1: First you'll need to make sure both images are set at the same resolution. I've already
set both of these pictures to 300dpi and a similar size.
Step 2: Next we'll cut out a piece to work with. Open the picture
of the "standing girl" and cut out everything around her. A simple way is to use the
"freehand masking tool" to draw a loop around her figure. Once you have the line
around her, use the "crop to mask" command. This will cut away all of the image,
except where the mask is. If there's any parts left that you don't want, you can
zoom in and touch those up with the "erase" tool. Then save the image.
Step 3: Now open the picture of the "kneeling girl." We're going to increase the space around
this image, to create some work space. Find the "Paper Size" command and increase
the size of the image, creating a large empty space around the picture. This is like
placing a real picture in the middle of a desk, leaving deskspace around the picture
to place your pencils, paints, etc. Save your picture!
Find your "paste from file" command and paste the cropped image of the "standing
girl" we made earlier, into the blank space around the "kneeling girl." After it's in
place, find the "combine" command and pick "combine objects with background."
This will make the pasted object part of the picture. Since we've placed it over the
white extra space, we'll be able to easily work with it later.
Step 4: Maybe you've noticed already, but the background of our main picture is not large
enough. If we were to place the "standing girl" over the "kneeling girl", her head
would stick out of the picture! So, we need to extend the background a bit. I like
to use the "clone brush" tool. With this paint tool, you can pick a part of the picture
you'd like to copy, and paint it onto a new place. Don't worry if it's a bit messy.
We'll crop the final image later, giving us a nice smooth edge.
Step 5: We're going to make some general changes to the "kneeling girl" before we place
the "standing girl" over her. I've done a few things here. First, I used a program
that comes with Corel called "Squizz." I drew a mask around the area of her left
arm, and then distorted it to make it look rubbery. If you don't have "Squizz" there
are other similar commands, or even using a "smear" tool would achieve this. Then I
made an object from her right arm, and moved it. (I thought it would look less
supporting to her body weight if I moved it.) After it was moved, I again used the
"clone brush" to cover where the arm was originally. (She'd look funny with 3 arms!)
After these adjustments were made, I used the "clone brush" and "smear" tools to
clean up the background around the areas that changed.
Step 6: Now let's move the "standing girl" into place. Find your "lasso mask tool" and make
a loop around the "standing girl." It should pull tightly around her image. Then find
the "create object: copy selection" command and pick it. This makes an object from
the "standing girl" picture, that we can move into place, and adjust the size if needed.
Go ahead and move the object into position over the "kneeling girl." After it's in the
place you like, choose your "eraser" tool. At this time, the eraser will only erase from
the "standing girl" object, revealing the "kneeling girl" beneath. In this way, we can
easily take away parts of the object we don't want. After you have the object where
you want it, and you've erased parts that you don't want, find the "combine" command
and pick "combine objects with background."
You'll notice there's a bit of a "halo" around the "standing girl." This we can clean up
using the "clone brush."
Step 7: Now we draw our details that make them work together! There are two main things
that I did. First, I copied out a section of the "kneeling girl's" hair, and put it up top
for something the other girl could hold onto. I painted in the small bit of arm seen
holding the hair, using colors from the "standing girl." It's such a small bit of arm,
that it was simple enough to paint in and smear a bit for smoothness. Second, I made
a flap of the suit visible at the back. This is done by drawing a mask in the shape of
the peeled section, and then filling it with a color taken from the girl's skin. Then
touch it up with darker and lighter shades to create some ripples and highlights. Then
use the "invert mask" command, and brush some shadows under the edges of the filled
area. This gives it depth. I'll show you later in more detail on how to do this effect.
(I did have a great tutorial on this from a friend, but I lost the file months ago, during
a system crash!)
Then, sit back and look at the image as a whole. Are there any minor details that
can be made? Shadows are very important for depth and realism. Check the areas
that you've changed or created. You can see at the "standing girl's" right arm that
was created, a small shadow under her breast. A small detail, but without it, the
entire arm would look fake. Same thing with the shadow over the "kneeling girl's"
right hand.
Finally, draw a "squared mask" around the part of the image you want to keep, and
choose the "crop to mask" command. Now we have a final image! If you'd like, you
can use the "image size command" to create a blank space to the side for a story
to accompany the picture. All that's left is signing it!
Go here to see my final version!
If you want to send me your version, I'll be happy to give you any suggestions, or even
post it for everyone else to see! Please use the "resample" command to reduce your
picture's resolution to 100dpi or less, so it isn't a huge file for email. If you plan on
printing the picture out, keep a copy at 300dpi, it'll print better.
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