Most of the time I let the layers sit in the order they were shot. However, sometimes that is not appropriate. The first two are the exact same images, processed exactly the same, except the layer order was reversed. The third is the same scene with some additional layers that had to be manually aligned. That is more difficult than it sounds.
I have also tried putting both the first and last images to the rear and working my way to the middle of the shot sequence. Every layer set can sort itself out eventually with enough experimentation.
The wrong options are the options you didn't try.
Hi Andrew, great to see you experimenting again. I have found that the order can change the outcome dramatically, but this seem to be tied to opacity - for equal opacity the upper layers seem to have greater effect.
I have only just finished a draft of an article I am writing which details my discoveries over 3 years of playing with this technique.
It might be quite/overly involved but if you want to check it out here is the link - it currently has a password of 'itr';
https://www.alanbrownphotography.com/advanced-processing-of-pep-ventosa-itr.
Note that although specifically written to address ITR processing much of the information equally applies to any ME layering process in PS.
BTW - I do like your unique approach on the 3rd image.
OK, I finally got round to trying to figure out how the effectiveness of each layer works. If the top layer is set to 10% opacity, then in my eyes the effective opacity of the next layer starts at 90 (100 -10).
Assuming the second layer is also set to 10% the second then the effective opacity would then be 10% of 90. As we move down through the layers then the effective opacity would have an increasingly diminishing return (again with opacity set the same throughout)
I am not clear on the mechanics nor the math, but this ties in with what I have found when editing ME images over the years. This also explains why layer order can be viewed as having such a great impact on the result.
I have also thrown together a spreadsheet which seems to concur with what I witness in Photoshop. If there are any math nerds out there I'd love your input.
Hi Andrew! I've been reading and taking notes on Alan's link he provided! It is a fantastic help. Every time I see your images, it reminds me of the same scenes I'm seeing since we're right "down the road" from each other; therefore, same challenges in post! Hope you are well!