PicsArt is one of the powerful photo editing apps for Android and it’s easy to understand why. This simple image editing app combines a variety of features and effects that give you a lot to try. And the double exposure feature is one of the many award-winning features of this Android app. If you have a creative eye, you can turn simple portraits into works of art by skillfully overlaying two photos.
In the good old days of analog cameras, creating a double exposure was no easy task. Correct lighting condition was very important. Also, with auto-rewind cameras, the effect was a bit difficult to achieve as the movie would automatically move to the next frame. Additionally, it was an expensive affair thanks to the movies.
Over the years, a lot has changed thanks to advances in digital photography and image editing. It no longer takes more than a few minutes to overlay two images.
So, if you want to dabble in image editing on your Android smartphone, here is the complete guide on how to create stunning double exposure photos in PicsArt.
How to Create a Double Exposure in PicsArt
Double exposure shots work best for portraits. There’s nothing like the perfect mix of a completely abstract photograph and a serene black and white portrait.
Step 1: Set the Base Photo
When it comes to creating clean digital double exposure images, the best option is to choose a black and white image. The idea is to layer it with a contrasting second image. This gives the opportunity for both images to shine brightly.
If you don’t have a black and white picture, don’t worry because PicsArt has enough features to convert your pictures to black and white.
To convert an image to black and white, tap on Effects > FLTR and choose one of the black and white filters.
If you are not satisfied with the image, tap the filter button and drag the sliders to your preference. Alternatively, you can also adjust the color curves to achieve a darker image.
Read until the end to learn how to remove the background and create the perfect silhouette.
In my case, I chose to go with a stock black and white portrait. The sharp edges of the silhouette will add a new dimension to the final result.
Step 2: Add Your Second Photo
Now that your base is ready, here comes the hard part – choosing the layer image, i.e. the second image.
The rules are simple. The layer image should complement the primary image. At the same time, colors should be somewhat sharp for the image to stand out clearly against your base image.
I chose to go here with a cityscape.
Cool Tip: If you don’t have a layer image handy, you can search for the same in wallpaper apps.
Tap Add Photo and choose an image from your phone’s gallery to add the second layer.
Next, tap the Opacity tab and drag the slider to the right. The reduced opacity will make it easier for you to see how the layer will look on the base image.
When finished, adjust the layer image according to your need. Be careful and don’t stretch too much.
Step 3: Mix Your Pictures
Next, swipe left on the bottom ribbon and select Shuffle. Here you can Normal, Add, Lighten, Multiply etc. Many options will be given.
Select Illuminate from the list and you’ll see the tool work its magic.
After doing that, go back to Opacity and set the opacity of the image to your preference. I would say magical.
Step 4: Eliminate Background
Wait, you’re not done yet. There are a few things to consider, such as the borders of the layer image.
Tap the Eraser tool at the top to remove them.
At this point, it’s important to keep in mind that the default opacity of the eraser will result in a harder blend.
Your best bet is to reduce the opacity and hardness of the eraser. To do this, tap on the Eraser icon once more to access the eraser settings. Next, set the opacity and hardness and tap on the part you want removed.
When the image is ready, finish by highlighting the image.
In my case, I cropped the unnecessary part and played with the color curves to give the top a bluish tint.
How to Remove Background in PicsArt
One of the biggest advantages of PicsArt is that it lets you create stickers from pictures. It cleverly defines the human silhouette and separates the foreground from the background.
So, if you want your final result to have a clean background with only the focus on the face, here’s how to do it.
Stage 1: Select Cut from the bottom ribbon and tap Contact. The selected area will glow red.
Usually the selections are excellent, but if you need to tweak more, there are a few tools at the bottom.
You can use the Brush tool to add more to the selection, while the Eraser tool can be used to remove unnecessary selected parts.
Step 2: Tap on Save to well, save the picture as a sticker. Now that the sticker is finished, it’s time to add a white or light background to it.
Stage 3: Select Fit from the bottom ribbon. This action will place the label on a white or transparent background. At this point you can also choose to crop the image according to your preference.
If you want to experiment with different colors, simply select one from the list of available backgrounds.
Once you complete this step, things continue as usual. Adding a neat cityscape and removing some elements resulted in this double exposure image.
And yes, I was quite impressed with the result.
Wait, it’s not over!
PicsArt combines many additional features such as Add Objects and Remove, which will definitely improve the look of your images. Add a few cool color splash stickers or add a glitch effect to further enhance the look and Ta-Da! You have an Instagram-ready image.
Next: Do you edit photos a lot? Read the article below to discover some of the best photo editing tricks for Android.
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