Replacing objects in images

In this tutorial you will learn how to properly replace objects in images to create a believable switch - in this case the basketball with planet Earth with realistic shadows. You will learn about selections, transformations, shadow creation and more.

Alrighty, let's begin... Open up a Globe image...

Select "Polygonal Lasso tool"
Cut the globe
Ctrl+C to copy

Open a Basketball image...

Ctrl+V to paste (new layer will be created)
In Menu - Edit> Transform> Scale
Resize the globe to fit the ball

Select "Background" layer
Make "Layer 1" invisible so that you can work on "Background" layer
Select "Polygonal Lasso tool"
Cut a part of the hand which folds the ball
Ctrl+C to copy

Select "Layer 1"
Ctrl+V to paste
(new layer will be created)
Make "Layer 1" visible again
That's not all
Select "Layer 1"
Select "Brush Tool"
"Mode" to "Darken"
"Size" to "10px"

Give the touch ups

Good luck and show me your results in the forums or here in the comments.

This tutorial has been kindly provided by Artcone.com Photoshop Training. If you want to learn Photoshop they offer very interesting Photoshop tutorials :).

Ann_Owens - 2007-09-30 20:35
I am new at this and would like to learn how to do this. I can't get past the first instruction. How do I "open up a globe image? Thanks

Kojak - 2007-10-13 04:34
Well you need an image of a globe first, just use "google images": http://image.google.com
I am sure you will find a few fitting images.

hekamp - 2007-10-17 20:33
I've never tried this. How do you select polygonal lasso tool?

hekamp - 2007-10-17 20:47
Ok, well I googled polygonal lasso tool and now I kind of understand better what it is. Looks like I would need to be in some type of editing mode? I only have photo shop and the Cyber Shot that came with my Sony. Would this work?

davles - 2007-10-31 07:12
When selecting a circular object it is easier to use the eliptical marquee tool[Photoshop].Holding down the shift key ensures that a true circle is achieved.
It is also desirable to feather the selection by a 0.5-1 pixel radius before you cut object otherwise the edges of the selection will hard and look obvious when pasted into the target image.

davles - 2007-10-31 07:23
sorry for the typos in the above post,it should have read - It is also desirable to
feather the selection to feather the selection by a 0.5 - i pixel radius before you cut the object otherwise the edges of the selection will appear hard and look obvious when pasted into the target image.I got this rong cos i am dyslexic and tomsimes teg it tackbards.

manroy - 2007-11-01 11:41
I agree with you about using the eliptical marquee davles. Now how about getting some pics on show, if you don't know how to do it let me know, I only live over the mountain from you, so I can come over and show you how it's done.