How do I actually make my own overlay?

[Lorraine Mc]

There are countless overlays for sale on line, and I know how to use them. What I want to know is, how can I actually make one myself?

Say for instance, a falling leaf overlay, that you add to an image. That's what I want to do but I can't find any info anywhere on how to create these overlays myself.  I don't actually want leaves, that's just one of countless examples such as falling snow, fire etc.

There are so many tutorials on how to apply one, but not how to make one. Searches online just bring up how to apply, not how to create.

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

Lorri

[jane-e]

@Lorraine Mc 

Hi

Can you tell us which Adobe application you are using? You posted to Using the Community (for questions about the forums). We'll happily make sure your post gets moved to the right place when we know the name of the software.

Jane

[Lorraine Mc]

Sorry, I didn't know the right place to post. 

Macbook Pro, Monteray.

Adobe Photoshop 2024, latest version.

[Nancy OShea]

[Moderator moved from Using the Community to Creative Cloud Services.]

Start project with a Transparent background, denoted by the checkerboard pattern.

When done, File > Export > Export As >  PNG with Transparency.

See screenshots from Photoshop CC.

Hope that helps.

[Lorraine Mc]

This is not what I'm trying to do.

I want to take a current image I have, le'ts say its a field of flowers. How woud I chagne that into a transparent layer that I can then overlay on another image, that I can mask off as needed. So that I could for instance, just have the flowers that I can then add on another image.

[Lorraine Mc]

I did talk to support and was able to achieve this. The steps are a bit confusing, and I had to use guesswork at the end as I had to leave the chat. I had to start a new file, create a new layer, embed the file I want to use as a transparency into the new layer, and turn that layer into a screen layer.

Then (the bit the person helping me didn't mention - my guesswork), hide the original layer, then do the export as PNG.

More guesswork on what to do next.

I go to the image I want to add the overlay too, choose File>Place Embedded>

Then, change the layer from Normal to Screen

A fully detailed 'how to' on this would be beneficial.

[Nancy OShea]

There are about a dozen different ways of doing this.

Double-click on background layer to unlock it.

Copy with Ctrl/Cmd + J. 

Repeat as many times as needed.

The topmost layer in the layer stack is an overlay of all layers below it.

Mask out unwanted regions from each layer until you get what you want.

[Conrad_C]

The basic steps are the ones shown in the demo below:

1. Pick a selection tool to isolate the field. Depending on the exact picture, the selection tool might be different, so you must study and learn the differences between the selection tools. For the image I used, there was no AI selection tool that would keep the field but not the mountains, so I chose the Quick Selection tool.

2. You might notice I clicked the icon on the Background layer. That was to enable transparency, so that what would be left is transparency, not an opaque white background.

3. Use the selection tool you chose, to select the field or whatever you want to keep.

4. Click the Create a Mask button in the Layers panel. This creates a mask from the selection. You can also create a mask by clicking the same icon in the Contextual Task Bar, or choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection. Again, many ways to do it in Photoshop depending on the situation.

5. Now it is ready for another image to be layered behind it. You can save this, but retain layers: Don’t flatten it or the transparency will be lost. You can also choose to apply the mask and delete it, in case you don’t want a customer to access all of the original frame.

When you get good at this, you can see it only took be about 10 seconds to get those basics done. But for something you want to sell, you’ll want to spend more time making the edge a lot nicer than my very rough one.