Combine Photos

Last updated on Feb 26, 2025 | Also applies to Photoshop Elements Editor

Photoshop Elements

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Learn to use Combine Photos to seamlessly blend multiple images, merging subjects from one photo, backgrounds from another, and elements from many more to create a unique composition.

Combine Photos has been introduced in Photoshop Elements 2025.

Combine Photos feature can be invoked from three places:

In Photoshop Elements Guided room, choose Combine > Combine Photos
In Photoshop Elements, choose Image menu > Combine Photos
In Element Organizer, choose Edit Menu > Combine > Combine Photos

The primary steps in this feature involve importing a photo, editing each photo separately, and finally matching the tone to create a seamless composite.

Importing a photo

Import Panel is the first panel available inside the workspace and can be used to select the photos you want to combine and to choose a layout for the final output.

Do one of the following to select the photos you want to combine:
- Use the OPEN button or File > Open option to add photos inside the Photo Bin and drag them on the canvas to use them.
- You can also use the Import panel inside the Combine Photos workspace to add photos from:
  
  Computer: Add photos from the local drive.
  
  Organizer: Add photos from the Elements Organizer catalog.
  
  Adobe Stock: Use free Adobe Stock photos.
Choose a Layout

You can change the default layout by selecting a layout from across eight categories: Standard, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and Threads. The default layout aspect ratio is 16:9

Edit

In the Edit panel, various options are available to customize each photo. These editing options only apply to the selected photo. You can select a photo by clicking on it or by using the Layers panel, which can be toggled on with Show Layers at the top.

Remove Background
Select this option to automatically detect the subject from your selected photo and remove the background.
- Hide/Reveal: Use Reveal to paint over areas you want to reveal. Use Hide to paint over areas you want to hide.
- Size: Use the Size slider to determine the size of brush strokes on your photo.
- Select Done to get the final output from the selected photo.
Extract Objects
Select one of the following tools and create a selection of the object in your photo:
- Auto: Use the Auto Selection tool to automatically create a selection when you draw a shape around the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Auto Selection tool.
- Quick: Use the Quick Selection tool to make a selection based on color and texture similarity when you click or click-drag the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Quick Selection tool.
- Brush: Use the Selection Brush tool to paint over the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Selection Brush tool.
- Refine: Use the Refine Selection Brush tool to add or remove areas to and from a selection by automatically detecting the edges. For more information, see Edit and refine selections.
Flip and Rotate
- Select the horizontal or vertical flip button to flip your photo.
- Select the left or right rotate button to rotate your photo.
Use as Background

Use this option on one of the photos to use it as a background photo. You can scale and move the background image using the Move tool from the tools panel on the left.
Opacity

Adjust the opacity of the selected photo using the slider.
Blend

Select one of the blending options from the dropdown to blend the selected photo.

Note:

All editing options only work on the selected photo. Select the photo to be edited by clicking over it on the canvas area.

Match Tone

Auto Match Tone

Click Auto Match Tone to blend the extracted objects with the background.
Fine-tune the results using sliders for contrast, saturation, temperature, and luminance.
Reset adjustments by clicking the Reset button.

Note:

Clicking the Reset button will reset the adjustment sliders and bring the photo to the state where Auto Match Tone was applied. If you want to remove Auto Match Tone also, click the Reset Image icon near the top right side of the panel.