Double exposures are a popular photographic technique that involves blending two or more images together to create a surreal and dreamlike effect. In Adobe Photoshop, you can achieve this effect using blending modes, layer masks, and adjustment layers.

What You’ll Need

• Adobe Photoshop
• Two or more images for your double exposure
• A canvas with a suitable size for your images

Creating the Base Image

1. Open a new document in Photoshop and set the dimensions to match your desired double exposure effect.
2. Import your base image and position it appropriately on the canvas.
3. To enhance the base image, you can adjust its exposure, contrast, and color balance using adjustment layers.
4. Save the base image as a separate file for later use.

Creating the Overlay Image

1. Open your overlay image in Photoshop.
2. To create a soft, ethereal appearance, blur the overlay image using the Gaussian Blur filter.
3. Reduce the opacity of the overlay image to achieve the desired intensity of the double exposure effect.
4. Experiment with different blending modes to blend the overlay image with the base image in ways that complement each other. For instance, try using Soft Light or Multiply for a subtle blend or Hard Light or Vivid Light for a more dramatic effect.

Masking for Precise Control

1. To isolate specific elements of the overlay image and blend them more precisely, create a layer mask.
2. Use the Brush Tool to paint black over areas of the layer mask that you want to hide.
3. Experiment with different blending modes and opacity settings to achieve the desired balance between the base and overlay images.

Refining the Effect

1. Use adjustment layers, such as Levels, Curves, or Hue/Saturation, to fine-tune the colors and tonal balance of the double exposure.
2. To enhance the dreamlike or surreal quality, consider adding subtle vignetting or applying texture overlays.

Saving and Exporting

1. Once you’re satisfied with the double exposure effect, save the final image as a PSD file to preserve the layers and editing history.
2. To export the double exposure for sharing or further processing, choose the desired file format, such as JPEG or PNG.

With these steps, you can create stunning double exposure effects in Adobe Photoshop. Experiment with different images, blending modes, and adjustment layers to explore the endless possibilities of this creative technique.