1.

To begin, open Photoshop CS, and use the file browser to open the Dune image from your samples folder. Next, use the file browser to open the Palm Tree image also located in your samples folder. When both images are open, close (X) your file browser.

2.

Make duplicates of both images, and close the originals.

The next step is to make the Palm Tree image the active document, and then click Select, followed by All. This will place an animated selection border around the palm tree image. Copy this image to the clip board by clicking Edit and then clicking Copy.

3.

Now, make the Dune image the active document (click on the title bar), and create a new layer by clicking the new layer button in the bottom of the Layers palette.

After you create your new layer for the dune image, make sure it is the active layer, and click Edit to display the edit menu. When you see the edit menu, click the Paste option to paste the palm tree image onto the new layer. Close the Palm tree image. Your screen should now look something like this.

4.

Choose the Move tool from the toolbox (the move tool is in the upper right corner of the toolbox) and drag the palm tree layer into position against the right edge of the dune image.

Note: The palm tree layer must be active for it to be moved with the move tool.

5.

Next, click the new layer mask icon in the bottom of the layers palette.

Make sure that the palm tree layer is active so the mask is added to the right layer.

6.

Next, select the gradient tool from the toolbox.

In the options bar, specify a linear, black and white gradient.

You can do this choosing the gradient indicated at left from the gradient preset list, and then clicking the linear gradient style button (the first of 5 gradient style buttons in the options bar). If you let your mouse pointer hover over a button, you will see a brief description in a comment small box.

7.

When your gradient is set up, apply it to the layer mask by dragging a short line over the image canvas itself. (First ensure that the layer mask is active. If it is, you should see a grey square with a white circle next to the eye icon. Also, make sure that your foreground and background colours are black and white.)

Start your line at the edge where the palm tree and dune images meet.

Drag your line over to the center of the palm leaves. When you release your mouse button, a gradient will be applied.

8.

Your image should now look something like the photo above. Remember, you could use other gradient styles to achieve different blending effects.

Click File and then click Save as to invoke the save as dialog box. Save the file as Practice13 in your practice folder. Save it as a TIFF format file.

9.

Close (X) Photoshop CS.