17 - Human / Animal Hybrid - Learn Masking in PhotoShop - Easy
Weird human/animal hybrid creatures are a common theme in tabloid newspapers.
Step #1: Find Your Photos
First, get a picture of your face.
Then get a picture of an animal you'd like to mix it with.
Step #2: Lasso your Face ~
Using the Lasso Tool...
Draw around your face.
Step #3: Move it!
Select the Move Tool
Drag the face over to the animal picture.
Always label your layers - Layer 1(animal) and Layer 2 (the face).
Step #4: It's Too Big!
You may be saying: "My face is way too big (or small)! What do I do?"
Zoom Out by hitting Ctrl - (minus)
Or use the Zoom Tool
Use the Zoom Tool to ZOOM Out!
Step #5: Free Transform Tool
Select Edit > Free Transform or Ctrl+T to shrink it down.
Grab the corners and squeeze your face down to make it fit.
NOTE: Holding the shift key down while adjusting the size keeps the image proportionally correct.
Hit Enter or click the 
in the upper right.
Step #6: Lower the Opacity ~
Lower the Opacity on the top layer by moving the slider bar.
Lower the opacity until you to see the background through the face.
Step #7: Distortion ~
Hit Edit > Free Transform or Ctrl+T
Right-Click and select Warp
Align your face with the animal.
Line up the eyes as your guide.
You can hold the Ctrl key down while dragging the corner of the box too....
Step #8: Layer Mask
Hit Add layer mask at the bottom of the layers pallette.
Notice the Layer mask thumbnail appears.
Click inside the Layer mask thumnail.
Step #9: Set the Brush Tool ~
Select the Brush Tool
Select a soft round brush.
Step #10: Colors ~
Set your colors to default black & white or just hit the letter (D).
Then switch colors by hitting "X" or clicking the 
so that Black is the foreground color.
Step #11: Layer Mask
Begin brushing the edges of your face with a soft round Black brush.
Do a good Job. Blend your face with the background so it looks realistic.
Step #9: What's the Big Deal?
Why not use the Eraser to do this?
If you brush with White it comes back.
Last Step: Save Your Work
Save the file as YOUR NAME! so we know who's it is.
Save it as a .jpeg approximately 500 pixels wide.
Go to: File > Save for Web & Devices
[Note that .jpg is the most widely use format for web graphics. That's because it makes the smallest file sizes to make web pages load quickly.]
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