How to use PhotoVim

Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

Level · Intermediate Updated 2026-09-28

Blend a transparent portrait with a forest using a clipping mask, layer masks and soft brushes. Follow the real editor recording with shortcuts and practice files.

Watch on YouTube

English editor and subtitles · 101 seconds

Pause at each step and follow the shortcuts on screen. The practice files contain separate source layers; the video is a recorded UI demonstration.

Steps

Tap a step picture to see it full size

  1. Create a new document

    On the start screen click New document (or File > New…, Ctrl+Alt+N). Type 1536 in Width and 1024 in Height, then click Create.

    Where to click — Create a new document
    Create a new document — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  2. Fill the background with cream

    Click the top color square at the bottom of the toolbar on the left (Foreground color). Type EDE2CF in the # box and click OK. Then press Alt+Backspace to fill the layer with that color.

    Where to click — Fill the background with cream
    Fill the background with cream — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  3. Place the portrait

    Choose File > Place Embedded… and pick the transparent portrait (01_PORTRAIT_ALPHA.png). A box with square handles appears: drag inside it to move, drag a corner handle to resize (the proportions stay the same). Press Enter to finish. Make the head fill the top of the frame with the face on the left.

    Where to click — Place the portrait
    Place the portrait — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  4. Place the forest and keep a copy

    Place 02_FOREST.png the same way and press Enter. Press Ctrl+J (Layer > New > Layer Via Copy) to make a copy for later. Click the eye icon at the left of the copy to hide it for now, then click the original forest layer.

    Where to click — Place the forest and keep a copy
    Place the forest and keep a copy — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  5. Show the forest only inside the portrait

    Choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask (Alt+Ctrl+G). The forest now appears only inside the shape of the portrait, and a small bent arrow appears next to the forest layer.

    Where to click — Show the forest only inside the portrait
    Show the forest only inside the portrait — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  6. Bring the face back

    Click the Add mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel (a rectangle with a circle inside). Press B for the Brush tool and D for black. Type 230 in the Size box on the options bar at the top. Press Shift+[ four times for a soft edge, then press 7 to set the brush opacity to 70%. Paint over the eyes, nose and mouth. Black on a mask hides the forest there. Type 85 in the Opacity box at the top right of the Layers panel and press Enter.

    Where to click — Bring the face back
    Where to click — Bring the face back
    Bring the face back — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  7. Let the forest spread outside

    Click the eye icon of the forest copy to show it and click the copy to select it. Hold Alt and click the Add mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. You get a black mask that hides the whole layer (same as Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All). Press X to switch to white, set Size to 420 and press 5 for 50% opacity. Paint on the right side and the bottom. Type 85 in the Opacity box at the top right of the Layers panel and press Enter.

    Where to click — Let the forest spread outside
    Let the forest spread outside — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  8. Bring back a hint of hair

    Click the portrait layer and press Ctrl+J. Press Ctrl+Shift+] (Layer > Arrange > Bring to Front) to move the copy to the top. Hold Alt and click the Add mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. You get a black mask that hides the whole layer (same as Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All). With a white brush at size 200, press 3 for 30% and paint lightly over the hair.

    Where to click — Bring back a hint of hair
    Bring back a hint of hair — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  9. Match the colors

    At the bottom of the Layers panel click the half-black, half-white circle (Create new fill or adjustment layer) and choose Hue/Saturation (or Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation). Its settings open in the Properties panel. Type -35 in Saturation and 5 in Lightness.

    Where to click — Match the colors
    Where to click — Match the colors
    Where to click — Match the colors
    Match the colors — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette

  10. Compare before and after

    Click the eye icons at the left of the layers to turn them off and on and compare before and after.

    Compare before and after — Double Exposure Portrait: Forest Inside a Silhouette
Worth knowing

If a browser shortcut takes over, use the matching editor menu command. Keep the source files and practice on a copy.

Try it in the editor

Questions

Do I need Photoshop for this tutorial?

No. Every step is done in PhotoVim in your browser, with nothing to install. Menu names and shortcuts follow Photoshop, so the steps look familiar if you already use it.

What does the clipping mask do here?

It shows the forest only inside the shape of the transparent portrait.