Morphing
Faces
by redGolgi
Today we are going to learn how to morph
faces. We are going to make this image below.
[ the final
product ]
Now, don't get worried, it looks much
harder then it really is. I made this image from these two
pictures:
You can download the larger images here to
work from.
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Note |
| In this tutorial you
will see letters in parentheses next to the names of
tools. This is the keyboard shortcut for the tool.
All you do is press that letter and it will bring up
that tool. Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to
save time and make the design process go more
smoothly. |
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The following steps will explain how to create the above
effect in Photoshop:
-
We are going to use the yoda picture as the base, and add
the kid's face into it. First open both pictures with
Photoshop. Then using your Rectangular Marquee Tool
(M),
select the area of the kid's face that we want, and then
switch to the Move Tool (V)
and drag the selection onto the yoda picture:
-
The next thing we have to do is match the sizes of the
faces, so that they will be proportionally matched as best
as possible. You will typically shrink down the larger
image instead of enlarging the small one so that we retain
the quality of the smaller one. We are going to shrink
down yoda.
Select the yoda layer and then go to your top menu bar and
select Edit > Transform > Scale.
Then hold down the shift button while you are resizing so
that the image resizes to scale and use the handlebars on
the corner of the layer to resize the yoda image until his
face is the same size as the kid's face. The
transformation will not apply until you press enter, so
you can feel free to let go of the handlebars and click on
the yoda image body and reposition it so that you can
match it accurately. It is helpful to pick a certain
feature of the faces to align each other with.
This feature may vary depending on the faces and
positions, but typically it will be somewhere in the 'T'
zone (the eyes and nose of the face) because this is the
most distinguishing part of the face. In this one we will
match the subjects' outside eye. Once you are happy with
the size, press enter and the transformation will be
applied:
[ scaling
the yoda image down in size ]
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Tips |
{ Tip 1 }
It is good practice to name your layers. This makes
it easy to recognize what is on them and keeps
things better organized. To name them either right
click and select properties or just double click on
the name of the layer. I like to color code them as
well. To color code a layer, just right click on the
eye next to the layer that shows if it is visible
and select a color from the dropdown menu:
{ Tip 2 }
It might help you to zoom in on the picture in this
case, because the images are small and it will help
you size it better. Select the Zoom tool
(Z)
and then go to the top toolbar and select 'Fit on
Screen'.
{ Tip 3 }
To match the faces accurately, set
the top layer's opacity to 60% (the kid's face in
this instance). You set the opacity in the layers
panel.
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Save your file if you have not done so
already. Press Control + S, name
it, and then select where you want to save it on your
computer. In the future, save frequently. From now on, you
just need to press Control + S to
save.
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