How to replace a singe color background with a new image

[Patrik Jahrner]

I have some black and white photos where the subject is all black and the background is all white. I would like to replace the white background with some other images I have of the same size. As an example, I would like to replace the white background of this image with this chalk background. 

This is how it is supposed to look:

Unfortunately, the person who made this last image can no longer do so for the rest. 

I have tried using   Select > Color Range   to make a layer mask only out of the white color which somewhat works, but it turns quite grey and isn't as sharp. 

[Myra Ferguson]

Instead of making a selection, use a Blend Mode. Here's how:

1. Open the background
2. Place the artwork in a layer above the background
3. With the artwork layer selected, change the Blend Mode (the dropdown menu that by default is set to Normal in the Layers panel) to Divide.

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Alternatively, you could invert the artwork and use a different Blend Mode.

1. Open the background
2. Place the artwork in a layer above the background
3. With the artwork layer selected, go to Image > Adjustments > Invert
4. Change the Blend Mode to Screen.

[Patrik Jahrner]

Thank you so much! I am fairly new to Photoshop so I haven't learned what all the different buttons and options do yet. But your reply was exactly what I needed. Thank you for such a quick response! 

[Myra Ferguson]

You're very welcome. 🙂

Would you mind marking either or both of my replies as a Correct Answer so that others with the same question can find the solution? Thank you!

[Conrad_C]

How close is this? It doesn’t use a mask, instead:

• The drawing is inverted using a clipped Invert adjustment layer so that it becomes white on black. 
• Because the drawing background is more or less a small range of tones, the drawing layer is double-clicked to open the Layer Style dialog box, then the BlendIf control is set to drop out the background tonal range, revealing the chalk layer.

I’m not saying this might be the best way, but it was a quick way.

Edit: I hadn’t seen Myra’s solution before I posted mine, but her suggestions seem to work and are even simpler!