PS cut and paste editing help, please!

[krigl]

Hi photoshop gurus, I'm trying to do some cut and paste editing with photoshop. Any tips on how to make a plane blend in with the background so it doen't look so 'stuck on'.  Or links to tutes? I don't have time to use the pen tool so I'm using lassoo, results not bad from a whitescreen shot and after erasing etc, but the plane still looks like a 2d stuck on thing.

Also, DODGE and BURN are two words I often hear. My photoshop and guide are all in Czech and have no idea where to locate these buttons. If someone could post some screenshots below where the relevant tree with all the choices is open and rings around the 'dodge' and 'burn' buttons I would be most grateful, as I want to make some special effects.

Finally, fire, explosions, smoke. Any links to good tutorials very welcome. I've found some after extensive searching, but, for example, adding steam to a cup  of coffee isn't exactly what I had in mind  ::)

Thanks

Krigl

[Clipper]

For a blend thing, try opacity slider on the added image, It creates a controllable transparancy to the image your adding, that combined with a good eraser to eliminate hard edges may be enough to get you started in better blending. Opacity slider is in the layers pallete, just make sure you've selected the appropriate layer before you try it.  :)

[krigl]

[quote]For a blend thing, try opacity slider on the added image, It creates a controllable transparancy to the image your adding, that combined with a good eraser to eliminate hard edges may be enough to get you started in better blending. Opacity slider is in the layers pallete, just make sure you've selected the appropriate layer before you try it.

[Sytse]

Working on a little tutorial for you right now, K  ;)

[Double_Farvel]

I find use of the Auto Color Correction under the enhance menu.

[Sytse]

Allright mate... here ya go!

Oh I forgot, here are some links to some nice tutorials for you:

props

effects

blending

Cheers,

Sytse

[krigl]

Thanks very much Sytse and Double Farvel, results will be posted in a few days....

That's great!