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Photoshop Displacement Maps

When you want to add two or more images together quite often you’ll want to contort one to the shape of the other. This can be done with ease in Photoshop using the Displacement Map filter. Its been around for a long time and not a lots changed, but then, does it need to?

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Photoshop Displacement Maps

For this example I’ll be using two images from Fotolia;

Fotolia_64783887

Fotolia_62972449

Prepping the Map

Duplicate the Image

Displacement maps use a greyscale image to adjust the position of the pixels of a layer to give the impression that they wrap around another texture. In this example I want the illustration of the fist to look like its contorted on the wall.

I need a greyscale version of the wall as a displacement map. First I’ll duplicate the image by using the menu command Image > Duplicate

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_01

A new dialogue box appears;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_02

First I’ll rename this, its not necessary but it keeps things tidy. I’ll call this Map (1). If the image has more than one layer I’d have the opportunity to merge them together for the new image here (2)

Click Ok (3) to continue

Make the Image Greyscale

There’s lots of ways to make the image greyscale, I like to use the black and white adjustment layer;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_03

I can get this to this in the Adjustments panel or from the Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Thinking Ahead

Photoshop is going to shift pixels depending on their luminance, how black, white or grey they are. For this image I want the displacement to be quite harsh, so I need the map to be have a high degree of contrast. This will change depending on your images and the way you want to manipulate the pixels.

As I’m using a separate document and adjustment layers I can always come back and change this later if I wish.

I could use the sliders to get what i want here, but going through the preset I find that ‘Maximum Black’ is about right, I’ll use that;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_04

Save The Map

I’ll choose File > Save from the menu and save the image to the desktop. Once my image is done I won’t necessarily need to keep this map. If you think you’ll want to tinker with it in the future then save it in the same location as the image and perhaps give it a more specific name.

I’ll close this Map image for now.

The New Layer

Bring in the New Layer

I’m adding an illustration to the wall image and I’ll bring it in as a separate layer. I resize it and position it where I want it.

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_05

Convert to a Smart Object

I want to make the layer as non destructive as I can. Displacement Maps have no preview so it could be there’s some trial and error here. I’ll choose Filter > Convert to Smart Object from the main menu;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_06

Apply The Displacement Map

I’ll find the Displacement Map by going to the Filter menu and choosing, Filter > Distort > Displace…;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_07

The three dots at the end of Displace… let me know there’s a dialogue box about to appear;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_08

Horizontal and Vertical Scale has default values of 10 but my image is quite big and i really want to distort the illustration so I’ll up these to 20 for this image.

I’ll leave the other defaults as they are for now as the map is the same as the image.

I’ll click OK

Another dialogue box, this one just needs me to locate the displacement map image, in my case it’s called Map.psd and its on my desktop. When I choose the map it’ll apply it to the layer, distorting it;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_09

Finishing Touches

Blending Modes

Its certainly shifted the pixels but it doesn’t look like it’s on the wall. I’ll try some Blending Modes to blend the images together;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_10

I think Soft Light works well here.

I’ll zoom in to check the displacement;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_11

Looking good!

Tweaking It

If it wasn’t displaced enough I could double click on the Displacement Map filter in the Layers Panel and change the values in the dialogue box;

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_12

I’ll have to select the map again too, but its worth it to get it right.

I’ve added a Hue / Saturation layer to my image using Luminance mask to adjust the cement more than the brick parts of the illustration, just to help it blend in a little better.

fotolia_photoshop_displacement_13

About Eric Renno (435 Articles)
Eric’s background in video editing with Adobe Premier led to his interest, and then obsession, with Photoshop. Starting TipSquirrel.com as a hobby he is proud to have gathered together and be a part of The Photoshop Nuts. Known as only “TipSquirrel” for two years, Eric ‘went public’ when he was a finalist in The Next Adobe Photoshop Evangelist competition. He’s also been a finalist in Deke’s Techniques Photoshop Challenge. While still taking on some freelance work, Eric has recently become a Lecturer at Peterborough’s Media and Journalism Centre where he enjoys sharing his knowledge as well as learning new skills. This realisation that he loves to teach has made Eric look at altering his career path.

1 Comment on Photoshop Displacement Maps

  1. Awesome tutorial ! thanks for posing.

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