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This tutorial demonstrates how to blend a flag with the contours of a person’s face utilising Blend Modes and a Displacement Map. To work along, you are welcome to download the image’s I am working with Here. Unzip the file and open your choice of flag and image onto Paint Shop Pro’s workspace.
Beginners Plus
You can create an instant blend without applying a Displacement Map, just by changing the top Layer’s Blend Mode.
You will find a list of world flags available to download here
Note
The face and UK flag images are the same size; when utilising your own images, before continuing - resize them so they are of equal size, as explained in my resizing images tutorial Here. When utilising your own face-image, ensure your subject has a dark background.
To reverse the face image, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Mirror.
Preparation Note
This type of blend works best when the subject’s background is very dark, or black; therefore, when working with your own photograph - remove the subject’s background using your choice of Background Removal Tool, and replace it with a Solid Black Fill.
Beginner Tutorials
Understanding Layers
Understanding Blend Modes
1/
Open your choice of Start Images onto Paint Shop Pro’s workspace.
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2/
Then activate the flag image by left-clicking its upper menu bar; then from the top menu, choose Edit. Now, activate the portrait image by left-clicking its upper menu bar; then from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Paste as new layer. You have just pasted the flag image onto the face, and the Layers palette will resemble the following.
Tip
To save PC resources, you can safely delete the original flag image.
Note
The flag - or face image can be resized utilising either the Deform, Deformation or or Pick Tool - activate your Tool by pressing your D or K key - depending on your Paint Shop Pro version.
  
Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI +, change the Mode to Scale.
Paint Shop Pro 7, press and hold your Alt Key whilst manoeuvring the deformation handles - this resizes your image, keeping its dimensions to scale.
 
3/
Now, (still working on the Flag Layer), from the Layers palette, change the Layer’s Blend Mode from Normal to Soft Light - or experiment with different Blend Modes.
Blend Mode List
To display the Blend Mode drop-down list; left-click the tiny black arrow illustrated by the red arrow below-left, then left-click Soft Light - or your own choice, to place a tick before it.
 
Tip
If you want to lesson the flag’s intensity, lower the Layer’s Opacity.
Paint Shop Pro 7 students, you don’t have a Displacement Map filter; therefore, congratulations, your work is complete; link here to learn how to optimise and save your face blend.
4/ Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI + Applying A Displacement Map
To soften the flag - so it contours the subject’s face, (still working on the flag layer), from the top menu, choose Effects then choose Distortion then choose Displacement Map. From the subsequent Displacement Map dialogue box, left-click its upper menu bar, and position the dialogue box to the side of your face and flag image, so you can clearly see the image. Ensure the Auto Proof icon appears to be “pressed” by left-clicking it, then experiment with the Displacement Map settings to soften (displace) the severity of the flag - then click OK.
Displacement Map Notes
Images will always react uniquely; therefore, when setting your own Displacement Map attributes, keep looking at your image to see how the settings (and their intensities) are displacing it - being very careful not to overdo the displacement.
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The settings above produced the following displacement, and as you can see in the screen capture - the flag’s edges are still quite severe.
To displace the flag’s edges further, set following Tile map to cover image settings - and move the Size (%) slider to around 186 - or experiment!
After applying the Displacement Map, you are ready for the next step.
Tip
Whilst the layers remain intact, the flag can be repositioned over the face using the Move Tool.
Tip
Prior to merging the layers; remove parts of the flag that you don’t want (for example, over the eyes - or hair) with the Eraser Tool.
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When you are satisfied with your result, (and have applied your final edits), from the top menu, choose Layers then choose Merge then choose Merge Visible; then link Here to learn how to optimise and save your work.
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