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Replace the blank TV screen with a photo - using Photoshop Elements

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty

Open two photos in PSE - the photo that contains the TV (target photo) and the photo you want to show on the TV (replacement photo) - I usually use a picture of the front of the house.  I have two methods of doing this - the first is quicker, but the second gives better results.  Here are the photos I used:

Target Photo

Replacement Photo

Method One: 

  1. On the target photo, use the Polygonal Lasso tool to draw a selection around the portion of the TV that will contain the replacement photo. 
  2. Make the replacement photo active, Ctrl-A (or from the menu bar, Select, All), then Ctrl-V (or Edit, Copy).  
  3. Make the target photo active, Ctrl-Shift-V (or Edit, Paste into Selection). 
  4. You'll probably only see a small portion of the replacement photo, so you'll need to resize it. Press Ctrl-T (Image, Transform); use the resize handles until the replacement image is approximately the correct size.  Don't worry that it doesn't look right; we'll fix that in the next step.  Click the check button or just press Enter to accept. 
  5. From the menu bar, Image, Transform, Distort - use the corner handles to move each corner into position until it looks the way you want.  Click the check button or just press Enter.  Done!

Close-up:

Method Two:

  1. Make the replacement photo active; make sure the Move tool is selected and drag it onto the target photo in the palette bin.  This will create a new layer above the target photo.
  2. If your photos are the same size, the replacement photo will entirely cover the target photo.   Transform should already be active but, if it's not, use the Transform tool (Ctrl-T or Image, Transform) to resize it to approximately the right size.  Don't worry that it isn't quite right - we'll fix that in the next step.  Click the check button or press Enter to accept. 
  3. From the menu bar, Image, Transform, Distort - use the handles to move each corner into position.  When satisfied, click the check button or press Enter to accept.
  4. In the Layers palette, Ctrl-click the replacement photo layer to select just the replacement photo. 
  5. From the menu bar, Select, Modify, Contract.  Enter the number of pixels (I use 2 pixels when working on a fairly large photo - you can experiment to see what works best); click Okay.
  6. From the menu bar, Select, Inverse; then Select, Feather and enter the same number of pixels you entered in step 5.
  7. Press Delete.  This will delete some of the pixels around the replacement photo and make it looks as if it's recessed into the screen instead of just pasted on top of it.
  8. I recommend reducing the opacity of the replacement photo to about 75% or 80% - this will make it look more realistic and allow any naturally-occurring reflections to come through just a bit.

I tried to make sure that each step is clear, but if you have any questions about these methods, please let me know.  And post your result here!

Comments (23)

Glenda Cherry
Keller Williams Realty - Herndon, VA
Realtor / Photographer

Thanks, Candice ... post your results here!  Can't wait to see what you do!

Thanks, Roger - I'm sure other photo editing software will allow you to do something similar.  If you're going to use the 2nd method, you'll need to use software that supports layers.  And you should be using PSE!!

Thanks, Joan!  Please post your final photo here!

Jul 27, 2009 11:58 AM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

I'm loving this.  PSE sounds like the way to go. I'll get going.

Jul 27, 2009 12:02 PM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Thank you!    Will do this!

Jul 27, 2009 12:29 PM
Glenda Cherry
Keller Williams Realty - Herndon, VA
Realtor / Photographer

Thanks for commenting, Jim and Li ... show us what you can do!

Jul 27, 2009 01:04 PM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

This is great!  I've bookmarked your post.  Thank you for sharing these detailed instructions.  I'm still learning a lot about Photoshop.

Jul 27, 2009 01:15 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

This sounds like a hard task -- but thanks for the instructions -- appreciate it .

Jul 27, 2009 04:37 PM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Sweet! thanks for the tip.  I can't wait to try it!

Jul 27, 2009 05:35 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Glenda, nice tutorial! I've bookmarked this one for future reference. Thanks.

Jul 28, 2009 01:41 AM
Glenda Cherry
Keller Williams Realty - Herndon, VA
Realtor / Photographer

Lola, Bob & Carolin, Leslie, Michael - I hope you find this tutorial useful.  And please let me know if you have any problems following the instructions.  I'm looking forward to seeing your results!

Jul 28, 2009 04:52 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Love it! This post has been featured in the Photography group also!!!

Jul 28, 2009 12:51 PM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

I have replaced windows before but not the tv screen.  Great idea and thanks for the info.

Aug 05, 2009 11:55 AM
Lori Young
Young Realty Group, Inc. - Naples, FL
Broker/Owner

Great work.

Aug 12, 2009 02:20 AM
Glenda Cherry
Keller Williams Realty - Herndon, VA
Realtor / Photographer

Thanks for commenting, Gene and Lori.  I'm hoping someone will try this and post their result here!

Aug 12, 2009 02:27 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Glenda  I've got to give this to my PSE 7 husbsnd to try  Karen

Aug 18, 2009 03:54 AM
Glenda Cherry
Keller Williams Realty - Herndon, VA
Realtor / Photographer

Karen, you have a PSE7 husband?  Are you going to upgrade him when the next version comes out?  LOL!!

Seriously, have him try it and post the result here!

Aug 18, 2009 08:50 AM
Don Stern
Realty Executives South Louisiana - Baton Rouge, LA
Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate

Now that's a great tip!  Thanks so much.

Aug 20, 2009 02:03 AM
Dawn Heinemann
Long Realty Company - Tucson, AZ
The Peter DeLuca Team

Awesome idea!  It's one of those things that seems like a no-brainer, but none of us ever thought about it!

Many thanks,

Dawn

Aug 27, 2009 02:33 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Now this is one reason to leave the TV on! I will bookmark this for future use.

Sep 01, 2009 01:01 AM
Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

Glenda, very cool.  The results are impressive, and the sellers must love it!

Nov 11, 2009 08:22 AM
Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

This is interesting.  I'll have to give it a try when I get a chance.

Nov 28, 2009 12:21 PM