Creating an action sequence composite in Photoshop

For the work on exercise 3.3 Sequence, I wanted to create a composite of the images of two BMX riders. two BMX riders from Mobile Bike Events (2017) performing in the Fun Zone at the recent UCI Road World Championships held in Harrogate. The sequence shows one rider jumping over a second stationary rider. The image was produced after trying out a number of methods. The technique still needs practice and the notes below are for my own benefit.

Photoshop offers different ways of achieving the same results and creating an action series sequence in Photoshop is no exception. What all the methods have in common is the use of masks. The following steps are taken from reading and watching range of online sources, which varied in quality. The sources I found useful are listed at the bibliography for this post.

Import and Align the images

1. Select the sequence of images in Lightroom,
2. Right click and select ‘Edit in’ and ‘Open As Layers’ in Photoshop
3. Select all the layers, then select Edit/Auto-Align Layers
4. Crop the layers if required

These steps could also be done by selecting File/Scripts/Load Layers into Stack and tick Attempt to Auto Align Source Images

Layer Masks method 1 (Quick and Easy for straightforward images) (Nichols, 2017)

1. Add a layer mask on the first image
2. Use black as the foreground colour
3. Set brush hardness to 50%
4. Select Layer/merge down
5. repeat the process for each layer

Layer Masks method 2 (for more complex images)(@adorama, 2013)

1. Draw around the moving object using the lasso tool
2. Add layer mask, The object will be selected with the background removed.
3. Fine tune the mask using the brush to paint in or out as required
4. Repeat for each layer

Bibliography

Hoey, G, 2013. Shoot an Action Sequence and Combine It In Photoshop [Online] Available: https://www.adorama.com/alc/0014281/article/Shoot-an-Action-Sequence-and-Combine-It-In-Photoshop Accessed 20 Oct 2019

Mobile Bike Events, 2017. Mobile Bike Events | UK’s Leading BMX Stunt Team [Online]. Available: [Accessed 14 Oct 2019].

Nichols, B 2017. Tutorial action photo sequence in Adobe Photoshop – photoshop cc tutorial – YouTube [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3iTuLllvpE Accessed 20 Oct 2019

Last edited 20 Oct 2019