User manual for Silhouettes

Install and get started

1. Download and unzip the software, if the latter isn’t done automatically. The resulting folder contains the main script Silhouettes.jsx and action sets.
2. Quit Photoshop.
3. Copy the script Silhouettes.jsx to Photoshop’s scripts folder. On Mac it’s in /Applications/Photoshop 202x/Presets/Scripts and on Windows 10 it’s in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 202x\Presets\Scripts. You may have to change the permissions of this folder to copy the script there.
4. Start Photoshop and make sure Silhouettes shows up in the menu File/Automate.
5. Install the Photoshop actions by double-clicking on the .atn file, or by loading it in the Actions palette.

What Silhouettes does

The script creates double exposures by blending two open images using film-inspired techniques:

• Creates a new document with both images, automatically fitting and centering them (rotating if needed to match orientation)
• Applies preparatory curves to both images before blending, based on your chosen mode and highlight softness
• Blends the images using either Linear Dodge (Additive) or Screen (Multiplicative) mode
• Applies a filmic response curve after merging for authentic analog contrast and highlight compression
• Flattens the final image for output

How to run

You run the script by running one of the supplied actions, or by making your own actions. If you expand an action and double-click on the settings you can edit the script recipe.

The script mimics analog double exposures by using curves that open shadows, compress highlights, and add filmic contrast characteristics.

Using and editing the ready-made actions

Silhouettes actions are built from recipes (script settings), that determine the resulting look. The script requires at least two documents to be open in Photoshop before it runs.

When you’re ready to edit the recipe of an action, expand the action (click on the right bracket) to show the recorded script name, Silhouettes. When you double-click on this, a dialog will open where you can edit the saved recipe. Click the button labeled Use this recipe to save your changes.

If you check Save and close when done the script will start saving and closing the image after it runs, so leave this unchecked while you’re still trying out different recipes.

Making your own actions

Make your own recipe actions by duplicating an existing action (click on the small hamburger menu in the upper right corner of the Actions palette and choose Duplicate) and change the name (by double-clicking on it) and edit the recipe as outlined above.

You can also record your own actions from scratch by having two images open and then click on the plus icon in the Actions palette, name the action and start recording. Choose Silhouettes from the File/Automate menu, select your desired model and highlight softness settings, and click Use this recipe to run the script. When it’s finished, you can stop the recording.

You can make as many actions with different settings as you like. Each action will create a new document with the blended result, leaving your source images intact.

Recipe settings

A recipe is a text string with script settings that follows a specific syntax. It contains a number of settings, separated by a ; (semicolon) and an optional blank space for readability. All settings must always be specified and in the following order:

1. Blending mode: lineardodge (Additive) or screen (Multiplicative)
2. Highlight softness: 1 to 5 (1 = hard highlights, 5 = soft highlights)

This is an example recipe, ready to be pasted into Silhouettes:

lineardodge; 3

Recipe settings explained

1. Blending Mode

• lineardodge (Additive): Mimics film-like double exposures with more dynamic blending. Applies an inverted S-curve before blending (opens shadows, compresses highlights) and a strong filmic S-curve after merging (adds contrast, further compresses highlights).

• screen (Multiplicative): Classic digital double exposure look. Applies a gentler preparatory curve before blending and a subtle film response curve after merging.

2. Highlight Softness

Controls how much highlight detail is retained and how gentle the transitions are. The value affects the curve points used in both the preparatory and post-merge curves:

• 1 = Hard highlights: Least highlight retention, more contrast, punchier look
• 3 = Medium (default): Balanced highlight retention
• 5 = Soft highlights: Most highlight retention, smoother transitions, gentler look

Tips and tricks

1. The script works best with images of similar dimensions. If orientations differ (portrait vs. landscape), the script automatically rotates one image to match.
2. Try screen; 5 for soft, dreamy double exposures with smooth highlight transitions.
3. Use lineardodge; 1 for punchy, high-contrast blends with harder highlights.
4. Experiment with different combinations—the highlight softness setting dramatically affects the final look in both modes.