Step 1: Open your image files in Photoshop
Open the two headshots in Photoshop by clicking File and selecting Open from the dropdown menu. It’ll open a new window where you can select the photos.
You can select both by holding the CTRL key (COMMAND on a Mac) while you click the second file.
Step 2: Select the face you want in your final photo
Click on the file tab that corresponds to the face that you want in the final photo. Select the Lasso Tool by pressing L on the keyboard or selecting it from the tool menu. Carefully trace around the eyebrows, nose and lips.
It’s best to select only the most highlighted portions of the face so that you can swap faces with a more realistic outcome. It’ll have a flashing dotted line around it when you’re finished.
Click CTRL+C (or COMMAND+C for Mac users) to copy the selection. Make sure the dotted line is still flashing.
From the tabbed workspaces, select your workspace that contains the face from your original shot that you want to replace. This will be your “body” layer. Press CTRL+V (COMMAND+V on Mac) to paste the copied face to the photo. Then press CTRL+D (COMMAND+D for Mac users) to deselect the face and remove the flashing line.
Adjust the layer to 30% opacity so that you can see beneath the layer. Using CTRL+T (COMMAND+T for Mac), position the face by lining up the eyes and mouth, stretching as needed to get them to line up as closely as you can.
To adjust the face proportionately hold the Shift key and click the box and drag. If you hover near the corner, it will give you rotation toggles that allow you to turn the image.
Getting the faces to line up well will require some patience, and a little trial and error using your eye to find the position that looks most natural.
Once you’re happy with the placement, press Enter to finalize your placement. This is really important. If you forget to press Enter when you finish, all of your hard work will be lost.
Then adjust the layer opacity back to 100%.
Step 6: Copy your background layer
Next, you’ll need to duplicate your background layer. From the layer menu select your background layer. You can right click and select Duplicate Layer or use the keyboard shortcut by pressing CTRL+J (COMMAND+J on Mac).
Rename the copy layer “body” as it will make up the majority of your final photo. Go ahead and click on the Visibility Eye to hide the background layer.
Step 7: Create a clipping mask
Press CTRL (COMMAND on Mac) while clicking the thumbnail of the face layer. This will select the shape of the face on all layers.
Select the body layer and click on the Visibility Eye of the face layer to hide it. After the background and face layer are hidden you will only see the layer you have selected.
Step 8: Create a slight overlap of the face with the body
Go to the Photoshop menu in the header and click Select. Then choose Modify and select Contract.
In the dialogue box, type 10 pixels. This will shrink the clipping mask by 10 pixels which will allow the face to overlap the body by a few pixels.
Step 9: Delete the face from the body layer
While the body layer is still selected, press Delete or Backspace to remove the area beneath the face. Press CTRL+D (COMMAND+D on Mac) to deselect.
Step 10: Select the body and face layers
Go to Edit in the Photoshop menu. Select Auto-Blend Layers from the dropdown menu.
