How to Easily Auto-Blend Layers in Photoshop

The Auto-Blend Layers command helps you blend images for a panorama or collage, or combine multiple exposures of the same image.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to blend together two images from two different landscapes.

It will only take you a few minutes to achieve this effect thanks to this handy and easy-to-use auto-blend layers tool.

For this lesson, I’ll use Photoshop 2022.

This project uses the images below download them to follow along:

Photo by Yo Amo El Español from Pexels

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh from Pexels

Final Image

Result after combining these two photographs.

Final Result

Auto-Blend Layers in Photoshop

Step 1: Create the Composite Image

First, open up the first image in Photoshop then press CTRL +R to pull out the ruler.

Drag a guide to add a reference mark in order to add the second image.

auto-blend layers
Place your Guide

Next, select the Rectangular Marquee Tool located in the toolbar and draw a selection in the lower part of the image below the guide, then add a mask.

auto-blend layers
Rectangular Marquee Tool
auto-blend layers
Draw a selection
auto-blend layers
Add Layer Mask

Press V to select the Move Tool and import the second picture in your document.

Then, adjust the image position as shown in the image below.

auto-blend layers
Import the Second Picture and Place it Accordingly

Convert that new layer to Rasterize Layer. Right-click on the layer > Rasterize Layer

auto-blend layers
Rasterize Layer

Next, grab the Rectangle Marquee Tool again and draw a selection from the top part of the image slightly passing the guideline. Then, add a mask.

Hide the guide by pressing Ctrl +;

auto-blend layers
Draw a Selection
auto-blend layers
Add a Mask & Remove the Guide

Step 2: Auto-blend Layers

Simply go to your Layer Panel and while holding CTRL select both Layers.

Next, go to Edit > Auto-Blend Layers. Select the Blend Method Panorama.

Photoshop will now blend the two pictures automatically.

Edit > Auto-Blend Layers
Edit > Auto-Blend Layers
Blend Method Panorama
Blend Method Panorama
The result after auto-blending the two images
The result after auto-blending the two images

Steps 3: Adjustment Layers

Let’s add two Adjustment Layers to further mix the two photographs together.

First, go to your layer panel and add a Channel Mixer.

Change the Blending Mode to Lighten and lower the opacity to 75% and copy my settings from the properties panel.

Channel Mixer
Channel Mixer
Blending Mode/Opacity
Blending Mode/Opacity
Properties Panel
Properties Panel

To finish with, let’s add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer. Copy my settings from the properties panel.

Color Balance
Color Balance
Properties Panel
Properties Panel

And We Are Done!

Final Image

After following this tutorial, you should be able to Auto-Blend Layers in Photoshop. I hope you found this guide useful and easy to follow. If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments down below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.