How in CS3? "Three shots made into one photo"

[rphipps]

I've been looking through tutorials and CS3 books all afternoon, but cannot find what I need to finish a photo concept.

While photographing wild geraniums in my yard last week, a small been worked its way around the anthers at the base of the pistil. I have three separate shots with the been in three separate positions around the flower. I want to have one photo with the same bee in three differnt positions. I know that they have to be layered over each other in the same manor as the old film "slide sandwich" technique, but I cannot find the technique for doing this is CS3.

My reasoning says one photo placed for the background, then lower Opacity on the others as you place them over the top. Bring Opacity back once lined up, but I would like more details for the full process.

I would appreciate any info the group might have.

Thanks ahead for your interest and/or possible assistance.
Bob Phipps

[tomdills]

Hi Bob -

Like many things in Photoshop there are many ways to do what you are asking, and they are easier to do than to explain. I'll give it a shot:

You are on track as far as getting the layers aligned. Hopefully there wasn't too much subject movement, and the areas you want to make sure are best aligned are those directly surrounding the bees you want to superimpose. You are going to hide everything else.

Once you have the layers where you want them, you can go to work on the bees. Working on one layer at a time, make a selection of each of the bees using the tool of your choice. You may be able to use the Magnetic Lasso tool or the Magic Wand, or you can just made a rough selection using the Lasso tool or the Marquee tool. The better the selection you make now the less work you have to do later.

Once you have your selection, click the Add Layer Mask button on the layers palette. That will add a mask filled with black except for the area you have selected. Then, using the brush tool you can paint with black to hide what you don't want or with white to reveal what you do want. You don't necessarily need to get right up to the edge of the bees depending on how well the layers were aligned.

Repeat with your next layer and you should be set!

[rphipps]

Tom,
Thanks. I've done that long ago, but forgot abut that method. Each been is buried under the stamens somewhat, so I can move them without much trouble. The flowers did not move enough to prevent good alignment. I was shooting in very still air.
Thanks again,
Bob