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Auto blend layers

Use the Auto-Blend Layers command to stitch or combine images with smooth transitions in the final composite image. Auto-Blend Layers applies layer masks as needed to each layer to mask out over‑ or underexposed areas or content differences. Auto-Blend layers is only available for RGB or Grayscale images. It does not work with Smart Objects, video layers, 3D layers, or background layers.

Among the many uses of the Auto-Blend Layers command, you can blend multiple images of a scene with different areas in focus to achieve a composite image with an extended depth of field. Similarly, you can create a composite by blending multiple images of a scene with different illuminations. In addition to combining images of a scene, you can stitch together images into a panorama. (Although, it might be better to use the Photomerge command to produce panoramas from multiple images.)

Auto-Blend Layers applies layer masks as needed to each layer to mask out over‑ or underexposed areas or content differences and create a seamless composite.

  1. Copy or place the images you want to combine into the same document.

    Each image will be in a separate layer. See Duplicate layers.

  2. Select the layers you want to blend.
  3. (Optional) Align the layers.

    You can align layers manually or by using the Auto-Align Layers command. See Automatically align image layers.

  4. With the layers still selected, choose Edit > Auto-Blend Layers.
  5. Select the Auto-Blend Objective:
    Panorama
    Blends overlapping layers into a panorama image.

    Stack Images
    Blends the best details in each corresponding area. This options works best with aligned layers.
    Note: Stack Images lets you blend multiple images of a scene with different areas in focus or different illuminations, to achieve the best results of all the images (you must auto-align the images first).

  6. Select Seamless Tones And Colors to adjust the color and tonality for blending.
  7. Click OK.
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For a video on using Auto-Align and Auto-Blend to create a panorama and increase depth of field, and using content-aware scaling, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid4120.