Double Exposure Effect in Affinity Photo

In today’s tutorial, we’ll be creating a double exposure effect in Affinity Photo. This technique is extremely popular in photography. It is done by taking two separate images and combining them to create a single image (usually an abstract image).

Go to the following links and download the images.

• Fox
• Fire

Step 1

First, go to File > Open and select the image of the fox.

Step 2

Second, go to the Tools Panel and select the Selection Brush Tool. Make sure the Add Mode is selected and the Snap to Edges is checked.

Step 3

With the brush, select all the fox. Make sure that as you select areas of the fox that you’re pushing the selection out so that one moving line appears around the fox.

Note: If you overshoot and select more than you want, switch to the Subtract Mode and reselect the area to remove it. You can also resize your brush by pressing [ to decrease the size and ] to increase the size.

Step 4

Next, go to the Context toolbar and hit Refine.

Step 5

Now, change the Output in the Refine Selection to New Layer. Then hit Apply.

Step 6

Go to File > Place and select the fire image. Hold Shift and drag the image across the document.

Step 7

With the fire image selected, go up to the Toolbar and select Move to Back. You can delete the original image of the fox in the Layers Panel.

Step 8

After that, select the fox and press CTRL + J to make a duplicate of the fox (or right click on the fox and select Duplicate).

Step 9

In the Layers Panel, select the fire image and place it inside of the original fox layer.

Step 10

Now, select the duplicated fox layer in the Layers Panel. Change the Blend Mode to Overlay.

Step 11

Then, go to the Layers Panel. Select the fox with the fire inside. Click on Mask Layer to add a mask to this layer.

Step 12

Select the mask. Go to the Tools Panel and select Paint Brush tool. Next, go to the Brushes Panel. Then, go to the Basic brushes and select the 256 px Round Light Brush.

Step 13

Now, go to the Swatches Panel. Make sure the color Black is activated. We’re using black so that we can hide some of the flame and reveal more of the fox.

Step 14

Take the brush and lightly click n parts of the fox to reveal more of it. Increase/decrease your brush size if you need to.

Note: You can go to the Swatches Panel and click on White to add some fire back to any areas you want to. The amount of the fox you decide to reveal is up to you. But, do make sure that you reveal the fox’s eyes.

Bonus Steps

Download the wildfire image.

Step 15

Go to File > Place. Open the image of the wildfire. Hold Shift and stretch the image across the document.

Step 16

With the wildfire image selected, go to the Toolbar and select Move to Back.

Step 17

Finally, Go to the Layers Panel. Select both fox layers (hold CTRL to select both layers). Then press CTRL + Shift (this helps to keep the proportions of the fox) and make the fox smaller. Place the fox in the front part of the wildfire image. You can adjust the fox as needed.

Congratulations, this tutorial is complete! You’ve completed a double exposure effect in Affinity Photo. For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this tutorial on how to create a neon glow effect.