Coin photos with both sides combined into one image

[Albert D]

I am going to be documenting my coin collection. In the past with my old DLSR and an older version of Paint Shop Pro it was really easy to combine the images and make some limited tweaks to it.

I now have a Canon R7 and the Canon 100mm macro lens and am learning Photo Shop and Lightroom. Is there a way to combine front and back of the coin in raw format before working on the editing?

This is an example of what I've done in the past.

 

[Thiophilos]

So you combined two images before in Paint Shop Pro, but now you want to do it in the camera in the raw file? Because you have a new camera and new software?

 

[Overread]

You can't do that in RAW because the RAW isn't actually a fully formed "photo" as such. The image you see when you preview a RAW in your computer folder or on the back of the camera is actually a JPEG embedded into the RAW with whatever JPEG editing your camera is set too at the time.

When you open the RAW in Lightroom/Photoshop you have to edit the RAW as a first step to process the data into an actual functional photo, which you can then open in the editing software and go onto adjust further.

Lightroom basically does all of the editing on the RAW and is pretty powerful these days.

What I'd do is start in Lightroom and ctrl-click on both photos you want to combine in the photo reel along the bottom. You can then edit the one you can see in the screen and click the "sync" option (lower right corner) which will copy the same editing settings you've applied to the one you see, to all of the photos in the reel along the bottom that you have selected.
You could even select all the photos at once (eg they are all the same colours and taken under the same controlled lighting with the same settings) and do them in one big go.

Then you can open them in Photoshop (right click on the photo and you can "open in photoshop" directly from lightroom) and then combine them there.

 

[smoke665]

Adding to above comment, to place images side by side you need to first create s blank canvas in PS equal to the height of the images and equal to the width of both images combined. There are multiple ways to place your images on the canvas (drag & drop, embed, etc), I typically open all my images in PS individually so I can edit each as required, do a stamped copy at the top of the stack (to include all layers), click on stamped layer>crtl A to copy>crtl V to paste to the canvas as a layer. Then click on added layer and move, to position.

 

[Albert D]

So you combined two images before in Paint Shop Pro, but now you want to do it in the camera in the raw file? Because you have a new camera and new software?

No, I want to combine the individual images in PS.

 

[Albert D]

You can't do that in RAW because the RAW isn't actually a fully formed "photo" as such. The image you see when you preview a RAW in your computer folder or on the back of the camera is actually a JPEG embedded into the RAW with whatever JPEG editing your camera is set too at the time.

When you open the RAW in Lightroom/Photoshop you have to edit the RAW as a first step to process the data into an actual functional photo, which you can then open in the editing software and go onto adjust further.

Lightroom basically does all of the editing on the RAW and is pretty powerful these days.

What I'd do is start in Lightroom and ctrl-click on both photos you want to combine in the photo reel along the bottom. You can then edit the one you can see in the screen and click the "sync" option (lower right corner) which will copy the same editing settings you've applied to the one you see, to all of the photos in the reel along the bottom that you have selected.
You could even select all the photos at once (eg they are all the same colours and taken under the same controlled lighting with the same settings) and do them in one big go.

Then you can open them in Photoshop (right click on the photo and you can "open in photoshop" directly from lightroom) and then combine them there.

Thank you for the detailed reply. It sounds like something that shouldn't be too difficult to learn. I'll give it a try.

 

[Albert D]

Adding to above comment, to place images side by side you need to first create s blank canvas in PS equal to the height of the images and equal to the width of both images combined. There are multiple ways to place your images on the canvas (drag & drop, embed, etc), I typically open all my images in PS individually so I can edit each as required, do a stamped copy at the top of the stack (to include all layers), click on stamped layer>crtl A to copy>crtl V to paste to the canvas as a layer. Then click on added layer and move, to position.

Thank you, I'm looking forward to trying it.

 

[Thiophilos]

No, I want to combine the individual images in PS.

That's not what you said, though: "combine front and back of the coin in raw format before working on the editing".

Good on @Overread and @smoke665 to figure out what you wanted to do.

Why not continue to use Paint Shop Pro?

 

[Albert D]

That's not what you said, though: "combine front and back of the coin in raw format before working on the editing".

Good on @Overread and @smoke665 to figure out what you wanted to do.

Why not continue to use Paint Shop Pro?

Can't the raw files be opened in Photo Shop? Paint Shop Pro doesn't recognize the raw files.

 

[Thiophilos]

Can't the raw files be opened in Photo Shop? Paint Shop Pro doesn't recognize the raw files.

Right - same situation with the old DSLR.

 

[smoke665]

Can't the raw files be opened in Photo Shop? Paint Shop Pro doesn't recognize the raw files.

RAW files are not an image, but data that a RAW Development Processor can use to construct an image. RAW files contain a thumbnail JPEG created and saved by the Camera as a side car, that allows you to see an image, but the RAW file remains intact. Some editing software is Non-destructive (RAW data isn't changed) and some are destructive (RAW data is changed).

To open a RAW file in Paint Shop Pro-
1. Click the Manage tab>Select File > Open
2. Choose a RAW image file and click Open
3. The Camera RAW Lab dialog box will open with the image.
4. Once the file is open, you can use the Camera RAW Lab to: Convert and adjust RAW images.

Adobe's processor is ACR, if you open the file in LR ACR opens as the development panel. If you then click and load the image into PS, it will load without further instructions. If you first try to load a RAW file into PS the ACR windows will pop up (again it will look like the development panel in LR).

 

[480sparky]

I'm trying to figure out what is to be gained if it's possible. The time and effort to combine two images and then edit the composite is the probably the same as editing one, applying the steps to the second and then editing.

Am I missing something?

 

[smoke665]

Am I missing something

I'm guessing because the OP didn't specify, but if going to print or web layout placing a single image vs multiple would have certain advantages.

If you edit the individual images in LR or PS and sync/copy&paste the editing, the time to insert those into a combined image is seconds.

 

[Albert D]

I'm in the early stages of learning. I want to combine the images for my own records and for posting on social media. It's the way the pros do it and it just looks better. I now understand that I can edit one image, apply the settings and then combine them.

Thanks to everyone for the information. It's been very helpful.

 

[JoolsW]

I don't understand why you wouldn't just open them in Photoshop, create a wider canvas, contour the coins, and select each coin and place on the wider canvas on their own layers. (Or have I missed the point?)