Integrating Pictures

This tutorial will teach you how to take two layers (one with sky on it, the other with water), and make them look like they can from the same photograph.

Set-up

First you'll need to download the example file; this is in Adobe Photoshop format. If you intend to follow this tutorial with another image editing software, you can download this layered tif file.

Step one - Select the layer Water and go to image>adjustments>color balance... We'll need to add some red and some yellow to this image so the water matches with the sunset of the sky. You can use your own preferences here or use the settings in the image below.

Step two - Now we need to change the contrast and brightness, so go to image>adjustments>brightness/contrast. We're going to need to increase the contrast so the overall water color gets darker, but keeps the highlights so as not to make it look flat. We'll also increase the brightness so the image doesn't get too dark. The settings are in the image below.

Step three - We need to flatten this image so it's just one solid layer. To do this go to layer>flatten image.

Step four - Now use the rectangular marquee tool and make a rectangle across the horizon. This will be used to smooth the horizon.

Step five - Now go to the refine edge... on the tool options bar underneath the Adobe Photoshop menu bar (this button is underlined in blue on the image above). We need to make this a softer selection, so when we apply the filter to smooth the horizon it will gradually fall off. Set the settings to the image below.

Step six - Now go to filter>blur>Gaussian blur. Set the radius to 2.0.

Conclusion

This technique can be used for many different situations. Of course you'll have to change some of the settings above, but the work-flow will basically be the same.