Combining images in PS and a few shortcuts

Just watched this very useful tutorial on Youtube about blending/combining images in Photoshop.

Step 1: Find the images to be combined in Bridge.
Step 2: Arrange the images as you require them to be in your design.
Step 3: Select the layer of the image you want to work on.
Step 4: On that layer, create a layer mask
Step 5: Select the gradient tool, and choose first default gradient; foreground to background.
Step 6: Draw a gradient from a point in the image to the exact edge where the image meets the adjoining image.


*Here is a basic example where I merged this cityscape to a photo of a woman.

Photoshop shortcuts

Just some random shortcuts from watching a ton of tutorials. I'm gone be a Photoshop boss b4 all is said and done believe that.

select our entire photo. Go up to the Select menu at the top of the screen and choose All at the very top of the list, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A
To remove the selection outline, either go back up to the Select menu and choose Deselect or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+D
grab the Brush Tool, so either select the Brush Tool from the Tools palette or press the letter B on your keyboard to access it with the shortcut
holding down the Alt/Option key as we click on the New Layer icon, we tell Photoshop to pop open the New Layer dialog box for us before the layer is added
press the letter D on your keyboard which resets the Foreground and Background colors to their defaults
I've gone ahead and made a copy of the original Background layer (by pressing Ctrl+J (Win)
I'm going to quickly grab my Lasso tool from the Tools palette. I could also press L on my keyboard to select it.
• Shift = Add To Selection
• Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) = Subtract From Selection
• Shift+Alt (Win) / Shift+Option (Mac) = Intersect With Selection