How to Create an Eclipse Composite in Photoshop

Creating a compelling composite image of an eclipse is an intricate process that combines technical skill with creative vision. Such composites offer a unique storytelling avenue for photographers to showcase the celestial event's phases in a single, cohesive piece.

Coming to you from Matt Kloskowski, this instructive video presents a clear, step-by-step guide on assembling eclipse photographs into a composite in Photoshop, providing viewers with two distinct methods. Kloskowski starts with basic image adjustments to ensure consistency across the set of photos, emphasizing the importance of adjusting the blacks to create a seamless composite. His approach allows for the creative combination of different eclipse phases into a singular, impactful image. This process not only enhances the visual appeal of the final composite but also amplifies the dramatic effect of witnessing an eclipse, helping photographers looking to elevate their presentation of such rare events that have thousands of similar shots.

Furthermore, Kloskowski introduces advanced techniques like smart objects and blend modes to refine the composite's appearance. He offers practical advice on adjusting aspect ratios, filling backgrounds, and aligning images for aesthetic coherence. His guidance on using the screen blend mode to seamlessly integrate the eclipse's phases over a uniform background is particularly valuable, enabling you to produce a polished and professional-looking composite with ease. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kloskowski.

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Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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