Morphing Objects
- Morphing Objects
- Technique
- The Basic Steps
- Detailed Steps
- How It Works
- Comments
- Hints for Success
- Forward and Back
Creating composites and merging images are some of the most complicated tasks you will do in Photoshop. Creating image morphs (an intermediate state between two objects) is really the most complex form of compositing. Even difficult morphing can be simplified if you follow a procedure and create a plan for your image adjustments. This article gives you an outline for working with even the most complex composites, while providing an example that will help you flex your Photoshop muscle.
Richard Lynch is the author of a number of books and articles on Photoshop, scanning, and digital imaging. This article is excerpted from his book Special Edition Using Adobe Photoshop 6.
Introduction
Morphing is creating a hybrid image from two original source images. The final image is a cross or compromise between the two originals in shape and structure. For example, when morphing a cat with a tiger, the end result will not look quite like either, but will mix the traits of both.
There are software packages that create morphing effects and are technically adept in averaging and blending, but they may not give proper preference to key characteristics. It is possible to use the power of Photoshop to create more unique and controlled morphs.
Although every situation in which you create a morph or hybrid of two images is different, the goal of this exercise is to show you how to use a procedure to develop morphed images. When you create any morph, there are innumerable variables. The example in this article shows a variety of the types of problems you may encounter, but it is not exhaustive.