The basic method: copy, paste, and position

To merge two photos in Photoshop, you open both images, copy one into the other as a new layer, then position and blend them. The process takes about five minutes once you know the steps. You do not need to resize or crop beforehand — Photoshop lets you scale each image after it arrives on the canvas.

Start by opening your first image in Photoshop. Go to File > Open and select the photo you want to use as your base. This becomes your main canvas. Then open your second image the same way — you will now have two image tabs open at the top of the workspace.

Click on the second image's tab to bring it to the front. Select all of it by pressing Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac), then copy it with Ctrl+C or Cmd+C. Now click back to your first image's tab and paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. The second image appears as a floating selection.

Press Enter to convert that floating selection into a new layer. You will see it listed in the Layers panel on the right side of your screen. Now you have two layers stacked on top of each other, and you can move and resize the top one freely.

Key Takeaways

  • Copy your second image and paste it into your first image as a new layer, then press Enter to lock it in place.
  • Use the Move tool to reposition the top layer, and the Scale tool to resize it so both images fit together on the canvas.
  • Lower the opacity of the top layer to see through it and line up details between the two photos.
  • Use layer masks or the Eraser tool to blend the edges where the two images meet.
  • Flatten the image when you are finished by going to Image > Flatten Image before saving.

Moving and resizing the second image

Once the second image is a layer, you need to position it where you want it. Select the Move tool from the toolbar on the left (it looks like a cross with arrows), then click and drag the top layer to move it around the canvas. The Move tool only works on the active layer, so make sure the top layer is highlighted in the Layers panel before you drag.

To resize the layer, press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (Mac) to enter Free Transform mode. A box with handles appears around the image. Drag the corner handles to resize it proportionally, or drag the side handles to stretch it. Hold Shift while dragging a corner to keep the proportions locked. When you are happy with the size and position, press Enter to confirm.

If the second image is much larger than your canvas, Photoshop may have automatically scaled it down. You can always scale it back up by pressing Ctrl+T again and dragging outward. The canvas itself does not change size — only the layer does.

Lining up the images with opacity

If you are trying to align two photos precisely — for example, merging two shots of the same scene taken from slightly different angles — lower the opacity of the top layer so you can see through it. In the Layers panel, find the Opacity slider at the top right. Drag it down to around 50 percent. Now you can see both images at once and position the top one to match details in the bottom one.

Once the images are lined up the way you want them, raise the opacity back to 100 percent. The top layer is now opaque again. This technique is especially useful when you are trying to blend two photos of the same subject or location.

Blending the edges where images meet

When you place one image on top of another, there is usually a hard edge where they meet. To blend them smoothly, you have two main options: use a layer mask or use the Eraser tool.

The Eraser tool is the simpler choice if you are new to Photoshop. Select it from the toolbar (it looks like a pink eraser), then paint along the edge of the top layer to erase parts of it and reveal the layer below. Lower the opacity of the eraser brush to around 50 percent so the edge fades gradually instead of disappearing all at once. This creates a soft transition between the two images.

A layer mask is more flexible because you can undo your changes later. Right-click the top layer in the Layers panel and select Add Layer Mask > Reveal All. A white rectangle appears next to the layer thumbnail. Select the Brush tool, set your foreground color to black, and paint on the mask where you want the layer to fade out. Black areas of the mask hide the layer; white areas show it. You can always paint white back on to undo an erase.

Adjusting color and brightness between images

If your two photos have different lighting or color tones, the merge will look unnatural. Photoshop has adjustment layers that let you fix this without permanently changing either image.

Click on the top layer in the Layers panel, then go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves (or Levels or Hue/Saturation, depending on what you need to adjust). An adjustment layer appears above your image layers. Drag the curve or sliders to match the brightness and color of the two photos. The adjustment only affects the layers below it, so you can target specific layers by placing the adjustment layer between them.

If you want the adjustment to affect only the top image layer, right-click the adjustment layer and select Create Clipping Mask. Now the adjustment only applies to the layer directly below it.

Flattening and saving your merged image

Once you are happy with how the two images look together, you need to flatten the file before saving it as a JPG or PNG. Flattening merges all layers into one and removes transparency. Go to Image > Flatten Image. The Layers panel now shows a single layer called "Background".

Save the file by going to File > Export As (not Save As — Save As keeps it in Photoshop's native PSD format). Choose JPG or PNG from the dropdown, give it a filename, and click Export. A dialog appears with quality settings. For JPG, a quality setting of 8 or 9 out of 10 gives you a good balance between file size and image quality.

If you think you might want to edit the merge later, save a copy as a PSD file before flattening. Go to File > Save As, choose Photoshop (PSD) from the format dropdown, and save it. This preserves all your layers so you can go back and adjust them.

Common problems and how to fix them

If the second image does not appear when you paste it, check that you copied the entire image. Go back to the second image tab, press Ctrl+A or Cmd+A to select all, then copy and paste again. If the pasted image is tiny or off-screen, press Ctrl+T or Cmd+T to enter Free Transform and drag it back into view.

If the canvas is too small to fit both images, you can enlarge it. Go to Image > Canvas Size, increase the width and height, and click in the position diagram to anchor where the current image sits. The canvas expands around it, giving you more room for the second image.

If the edges look jagged or pixelated after you erase or mask them, you may have zoomed in too far while editing. Zoom out to see the full effect. You can also soften the eraser or brush by increasing its feather value — in the tool options at the top, look for a Feather slider and set it to 10 or 20 pixels for a smoother fade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I merge more than two photos at once?

Yes. Open all the images you want to merge, then copy and paste each one into your base image as a separate layer. You will have a stack of layers in the Layers panel, and you can position, resize, and blend each one independently. The process is the same as merging two photos, just repeated for each additional image.

What if the two photos are different sizes?

Photoshop does not automatically resize them to match. When you paste the second image, it keeps its original dimensions. Use Free Transform (Ctrl+T or Cmd+T) to scale it up or down to fit with the first image. If you want both images to be the same size before you start, you can resize them individually before opening them together, but it is easier to do it after they are both on the canvas.

How do I make the seam between two photos invisible?

Use a layer mask with a soft brush to fade one image into the other along the seam. Lower the brush opacity to 30 or 40 percent and paint black on the mask where the images meet, so the edge fades gradually. You can also use the Clone tool to copy pixels from one image over the seam to hide it, though this takes more practice.

Do I need Photoshop, or can I do this in a free program?

You can merge photos in free programs like GIMP or Photopea, which work the same way — copy, paste as a layer, position, and blend. Photoshop has more blending options and adjustment tools, but the basic merge process is identical across all of them.

What format should I save the merged image in?

Save as JPG if you want a smaller file for email or web use, or PNG if you need transparency or plan to edit it again later. JPG is more compressed but loses some quality; PNG keeps full quality but creates larger files. For a final image you do not plan to edit again, JPG at quality 8 or 9 is usually the best choice.