Beautiful double exposure effect in Photoshop

Beautiful double exposure effect in Photoshop

Double exposure creates striking artistic portraits by blending two photographs into one seamless image. This classic photography technique transforms ordinary portraits into surreal compositions where subjects merge with landscapes, textures, or abstract elements.

This tutorial demonstrates how to recreate the traditional film photography effect digitally using selection tools, layer masks, and blending modes in Photoshop.

Watch the Tutorial

Video by Howard Pinsky. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Key Techniques for Double Exposure

Master these essential steps to create convincing double exposure effects:

  • Use Quick Selection Tool with Refine Edge to isolate your main subject cleanly from the background
  • Apply Color Range selection to remove unwanted sky or background colors that bleed through
  • Create clipping masks to contain the second image within your subject's silhouette
  • Adjust Blend If sliders in Layer Styles to reveal underlying textures through shadows and highlights
  • Use layer masks with gradients to create smooth transitions between the portrait and background elements

More Tutorials About Double Exposure Effects

Explore additional techniques and creative approaches for this popular photographic effect.

Double Exposure Effect Photoshop Tutorial
In this tutorial, learn to create a surreal double exposure effect in Adobe Photoshop, inspired by the authentic technique used by photographers. Traditionally, this involves exposing two photographs onto the same film to blend the images. This digital version guides you through selecting the right photos and blending them seamlessly using Photoshop's powerful tools. The result is a striking and artistic effect that adds depth and creativity to your projects. Perfect for both beginners and seas
Double Exposure Glitch Poster Design in Photoshop
In this Photoshop tutorial you will learn how to create double exposure glitch poster design step by step. You can use this technique to create a double exposure effect for your own photos. Download tutorial images here… More
How to Quickly Create a Monochrome Double-Exposure Photo Portrait in Photoshop
The double exposure effect, a classic technique originating from film photography, allows for the striking fusion of two distinct images into a single, cohesive composition. This method is particularly effective for creating surreal and evocative portraits, blending a subject with landscapes, textures, or abstract elements to convey deeper meaning or artistic vision. This video tutorial provides a practical guide to achieving a powerful monochrome double-exposure photo portrait using Adobe Phot
Make a trendy double exposure effect in Photoshop
You've probably seen this interesting effect of two or more overlapping photos on the covers of music albums, in modern magazines and in advertisements. In this video, we'll create a trendy double exposure effect in Adobe Photoshop with the help of Blending Modes and Clipping Masks in a few steps. In photography and cinematography, a multiple exposure is a combination of two or more exposures to create a single image. Initially, this is a technique in which the camera shutter is opened more tha

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

How to Use AI Object Masking in Camera Raw for Targeted Exposure Adjustments

Selecting complex foreground elements — detailed trees, people, motion-blurred figures — used to mean hours of careful masking work. The AI-powered object selection inside Camera Raw changes that entirely, letting you make rough brush strokes and still walk away with a precise, editable mask. Combined with a non-destructive smart...

How to Remove Wrinkles and Replace Backdrops in Post-Production

Wrinkled fabric backdrops, uneven lighting, and backgrounds that don't quite fill the frame are common problems when shooting on a budget. Fixing them manually through dodge and burn, frequency separation, or content-aware fill can eat up significant editing time — especially across a full shoot's worth...

Pixel Stretch Effect in Photoshop Using the Single Column Marquee Tool

The pixel stretch effect takes a single column of pixels from a subject and extends it horizontally across the frame, creating a sharp, graphic streak that suggests speed or energy. It works on portraits, athletes, and objects alike, and the entire process relies on just a few basic Photoshop tools...

How to Assign a Custom Keyboard Shortcut to Select Subject in Photoshop

Navigating to Select > Subject every time you need to isolate a subject adds up to a surprising amount of wasted clicks. Photoshop lets you assign a custom keyboard shortcut to almost any menu command — including Select Subject — so you can trigger it instantly without touching the menus. Watch the...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.