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How to Overlay and Combine Multiple Exposures in Snapseed App

As a professional photographer with over 10 years of experience, I often use Snapseed to edit my photos on the go. One of my favorite features is the ability to overlay and blend multiple exposures together into one image. This allows me to capture a scene with a greater dynamic range, highlight details in the shadows and highlights, and reduce noise in my photos.

Why Combine Exposures?

There are several advantages to combining multiple exposures:

  • Wider dynamic range – By taking multiple photos at different exposures, you can capture details in the shadows and highlights that would otherwise be lost. Blending them together gives you an image with greater dynamic range.
  • Reduced noise – Taking multiple exposures and averaging them reduces random noise and grain in your final image.
  • Highlight recovery – If you have an image with blown out highlights, you can overlay an underexposed image to recover those lost details.
  • Creative effects – You can create unique double exposures and light painting effects by blending intentionally misaligned or differently composed shots.

Overlaying Exposures in Snapseed

Snapseed makes it easy to quickly overlay two images. Here are the basic steps:

  1. Open the base image you want to overlay on in the Tune Image tool.
  2. Tap the overlay icon (two linked circles) at the bottom.
  3. Select the second image you want to overlay. This will open the overlay adjustment tools.
  4. Adjust the brightness, contrast, and transparency of the overlay image until you are satisfied.
  5. Tap the Apply button when finished.

Pro tip: You can add multiple overlay layers to combine three or more exposures into one image.

Blending Exposures with Masks

A more advanced technique is using masks to selectively blend parts of each exposure. This takes more work but allows you to perfectly combine exposures:

  1. Follow steps 1-4 above to overlay your exposures.
  2. Select the Tools option at the bottom.
  3. Choose the Brush tool. Adjust size/hardness to your desired blending area.
  4. Carefully mask out the area you want to blend from the overlay image. Gradually build up the mask.
  5. Adjust the brightness and contrast of the masked overlay area until it matches the base image.
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 for any other regions you want to selectively blend.

Pro tip: Use the Erase brush to fine tune your mask edges. Quickly tap Undo if you make a mistake.

Shooting for Exposure Blending

To get the best results when exposure blending:

  • Use a tripod – this ensures perfect alignment between shots
  • Manual mode – dial in different shutter speeds for each exposure
  • Minimum ISO – keep ISO low for less noise
  • Auto white balance – helps colors match between exposures
  • Highlight priority – protect highlights by favoring underexposure
  • Bracket exposures – take a range of shots up to 5 stops apart

Other Creative Uses

In addition to extending dynamic range and reducing noise, you can use exposure overlaying creatively:

  • Double exposures – Overlay shots with intentional misalignment for artistic effect
  • Light painting – Combine a long exposure background with a short exposed light painted foreground
  • Motion trails – Have a subject move positions between exposures
  • Focal blending – Combine shots focused at different depths

Be creative and experiment with blending exposures! Snapseed gives you powerful flexibility. With practice, you can get fantastic results.

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