photo merge with paintshop pro x3

[clintonjrsyr]

I need help. I'm trying to make a colloge but the HDR photo merge is saying "one or more images weren't loaded; possibly because they're already included or their size doesn't match the other images." How do I fix this? I have corel paint shop pro x3.

[hartpaul]

What you have done:
File > HDR Photomerge and in the new dialog box that comes up, you have Browsed to a folder containing three different images and then tried to merge them. This does not work because this tool is meant to take the same image (usually shot on a tripod) with at least three different exposures: one middle correct exposure, one overexposed to allow the darker sections to have some detail and one under exposed to get detail in the highlights. The HDR process then merges the three images together takin the best details from each image to produce an image that cannot normally get taken in one shot. Do a Goole search on HDR images and you will see a lot of examples of almost unreal scenes.

What you Want:
Making a collage - a number of different images on the same canvas eg. family portraits combined.
I am not sure of your level of familiarity with paint shop pro and if you are familiar with layers, so will do this without mentioning using layers (too much).
Lets suppose I had two portrait images one 800 x 1200 pixels and the other 500 x 700 pixel and wanted to collage them so that they were side by side.

1. Make a canvas (New image ) big enough to hold both images if they were the same maximum size (800 x 1200 ).
The canvas size would be at least twice this size in one dimension (vertically or horizontally ) so 1600 x 1200 would do for a left right position and 800 x 2400 would do for a vertical placement.
File > New and in the dialog box Type in 1600 for the width and 1200 for the height. Make sure raster background is ticked and the Transparent box for the color. Click OK You will have a new image probably called Image 1 with a checkerboard background.

2. Reduce the size of your canvas by zooming out (roll your mouse wheel) . Then load your other two images into the work space and again zoom them out so that you can see all images on the workspace together.
3. Right click the 500 x 700 pixel image and select Copy .
4. Right click the new canvas - Image 1 and select Paste > Paste as New Layer.
5. Repeat 4. with the 800 x 1200 image .
6. You will now have the two images on top of each other like two cards and just as you could place your finger on the top card and slide it to one side you can do the same with the Pick tool. (second tool on tool bar, may be hidden under the Move tool). As you move the top image to one side the second image will become visible and clicking on that will allow you to move that in the same way that once the top card is slid far enough to one side you can then slide the bottom card around (so long as the top card stays in place) .
7. Move that second image (the 500 x 700 one) to the top corner of the canvas. Then drag the bottom diagonal corner to make that image as large as you want it on the canvas.(If you drag from the side or bottom it will distort the image. ) It may overlap the other a bit if you like as the format sizes do not match.
8. Lastly Layers> Merge> Merge All (Flatten)
9. You can then crop to remove any unwanted canvas showing.

[clintonjrsyr]

Thank you Paul. This is exactly what I was looking for.

[clintonjrsyr]

Ok. That didn't work. I know, I'm an idiot. I know I've used the HDR photo merge before to combine my photos. But for some reason, it won't let me use photos that I've already used. I've tried deleating the history both on my computer and through the setting on coral, to no avail. I'm just not sure why it's not letting me do it again.

[hartpaul]

OK so you are trying to photomerge (HDR) three images of the same subject with different exposures. I just tested to see if I could merge the same three images more than once and all worked with no problems. Here are my settings:
Browsing and locating the images



Merging the images:

[clintonjrsyr]

ok. None of that is what I'm looking for. I'm trying to make a collage of 7 different pictures into one picture. How do I do that?

[hartpaul]

You do not use HDR photomerge to make a collage.
I have given the steps under What You Want? Above.
Which steps are you having trouble with.
I have numbered them so you can check where the problems are occurring and only done it with two images to keep it simple.
For 7 images I would advise having a canvas width 3 times the width of your widest photo and a height 2 1/2 times your greatest height image. That should give you plenty of space to arrange 7 images and then do a final crop. Then you do steps 3 and 4 seven times to get the 7 images on the one canvas.

Minimise each image as you copy and paste so you don't do the same image twice. All 7 images will be in the centre of the canvas like a deck of 7 cards and you just have to slide each one off the top of the deck and into position using the move tool.

[Kathy_9]

hartpaul gave very good instructions on how to make a collage with PSP. Although PSP is my preferred editor, if I want a collage, I'll turn to Picasa as it turns out a number of different style collages quickly and easily.

As I re-read your last post where you said "I'm trying to make a collage of 7 different pictures into one picture" I am wondering if you are referring to a photo montage and not a collage. Can you post an example of what you are trying to achieve?