HELP ME!!!! (clarifyed, with images I hope)

My previous post was answered but not with much detail (only told me to go to websites with various tutorials).

Here is my problem:

I am currently in the process of trying to learn layer masks to make images seem more natural. I want to be able to (on a whim) take any image, and place it naturally in a background so that it looks like it's supposed to be there.

Example: I have an image of a car. I have an image of a person. I create a layer through cut and paste to make the car Layer 1. Using select layer, then copy, I paste the person into the PSD file making the person Layer 2. Now I want to be able to put Layer 2 (the person) behind Layer 1 (the car) so that basically if you were to view the picture, the majority of the person's torso would be hidden by the car. I have no idea how to do this, but I have been told the best way is with Layer Masks. Therefore, I am practicing.

Here is how I am practicing, and what I want to do, complete with images:



This is the image that I have for Layer 1 (essentially, this would be my background, since I don't have an actual layer named 'Background'). Dear God I hope these show up























This is the image of the person I have to work with. This would be Layer 2 (since the image of the yard is Layer 1).














Now...my question is, how do I put Layer 2 (the person) BEHIND the fence in the yard (Layer 1) using Masks, Extract, or anything else of the bazillion features that Photoshop has to offer? I thought the 'Behind' mode might work, but that didn't pan out. The CLOSEST I have come so far has been selecting the 'Screen' mode, which makes Layer 2 (the person) transparent enough so that you can see the fence; hence, this (somewhat) achives the desired effect (placing the person behind the fence). However, I can't seem to get any farther than that.

Help? Anyone? I'm pretty damn desperate at this point.

If the images don't show, Layer 1 (the background/yard) is located at the following URL:


http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Feb/20022122157848177943445.jpg


And Layer 2 (the person) is located at the following URL:



http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Feb/20022121017107724484186.jpg


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me to do this! This damn thing has been bothering me for over a WEEK now! If I can figure out how to do this, I will be able to do SO much more! I'm slowly learning masks (still have no clue how to use them) so be gentle on me! I'm trying! Honest! I've even mastered the cloning tool and magic wand! I'm getting better at the 3D tool! I just can't seem to figure out this one damn hurdle in Photoshop! Help!

I'm the one posting the damn links.:D

If I get this correctly you want to put layer 2 (person) into
layer 1 (yard-fence), but behind the fence ?...OK !

Then I'm gone. To much of a newbie myself. I thougt it was all about general layer-stuff, you know, putting one layer behind another and so forth. I know a bit 'bout layermasking but not this much...Seems interesting though, I will follow this thread to see what answers you get, 'cos I wanna learn this aswell.

Nice post. This, if answered, will make us newbies learn somethin'.

I give it 9/10:D ;) (This remark refers to my idiotic post in "Suggestions" )
P-man

Been sitting here for half an hour, since posting the above, trying to figure somethin' out. Nehhhh, don go to well. tried to copy the yard thing and putting masks on several copies to try and get him behind fence (!!). I get the body right, it gets in behind the fence, but the face seems to bright somehow and the "grid" dont cross over it.

I am not good enough. But I will keep on trying, this was rather fun, actually. I would appriciate (spell check.) a mail from You if you get a solution to this dilemma. Possible ???

P-man

Welp.... Putting the person behind the fence would be a very painstaking process. I will use the example of the car instead, 'cause it's a lot easier.

Basically you are on the right track with cutting the car out of the background and making it on it's own layer.

Then you take the person and cut it out of the background.

Then to make it look like it's in the car, you would need to put the person layer behind the car layer.

To make it show thru, you would just have to cut out the window of the car. Or you could make a selection of the window, and reduce the opacity, to make the person visible but still see the highlights of the glass, etc to make it look more realistic.

For the fence, Other than the screen method you already experiemented with, I would say the only way to do it is to select all of the fence (every little wire) and make that it's own layer. Then cut out the person, and put it behind that layer. It would take forever and would be very very difficult to make it look good. Especially in an image like you showed with not only the fence, but the grass, building etc. It would be very hard to extract just the fence.

If possible, it would probably be easier to take a photo without the fence, then just make your own fence in photoshop and put it over the image.

Any way you do it that is not an easy job and very time consuming and hard to get right.

There may be other ways to do, but I can't think of any right now.

Hope that helps, if not, tell me what you don't understand.