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What to do if you want to experiment and surprise the client with unusual shots, but you don’t have the time and desire to buy more equipment and gadgets for the camera, to deal with complex preparation for a long and dreary time?
Catch a detailed guide on what multiple exposure is and how to do it so that you can easily and quickly get spectacular shots with a minimum of time.

What is multiple exposure
How to make a multiple exposure on a film camera
Multiple exposure on Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm
How to make a multiple exposure on Nikon cameras
How to make a multiple exposure on a Canon
How to make a multiple exposure on Fujifilm
How to do multiple exposure on Sony
How to make a multiple exposure in Photoshop
Results. Where to Apply the Multiple Exposure Effect
What is multiple exposure
Multiple exposure or double exposure is a creative technique in photography, when two or more frames are combined in one picture, superimposing one on top of the other with different opacity.
Initially, exposure in photography is the amount of light that a matrix or photographic emulsion receives in a digital or film camera. Therefore, if the picture turned out to be too light, then it is called overexposed or overexposed, and a too dark picture is called underexposed. When we make a multiple exposure, the light hits the same frame at least twice, showing different scenes in one frame.
How to make a multiple exposure on a film camera
Multiple exposure is not the invention of fancy SLR cameras with a lot of room for experimentation. For the first time, this effect was obtained precisely on film.
The point is to overlay two scenes on the same piece of film. To do this, you will have to use it several times — after you shoot the “basic” frames, you need to rewind it and put it in the camera again, as you would do with a new film.
The main difficulty is to accurately combine the “lower” and “upper” frames. To do this, mark the borders of the frame with a pencil or marker when you load the film for the first time in order to position it the same way the second time.

Because of these nuances, a quality result is difficult to achieve spontaneously — you need to initially decide that this film will be devoted to multiple exposures, because when you measure the frame width, the first shots will definitely light up. In addition, you need to remember exactly what is shown in each of the frames so that the multiple exposure turns out to be meaningful.
If you want to simplify your task, buy a film camera with a built-in multiple exposure function. Such cameras allow you to take a new frame without winding the film onto the next one. For example, this function is available in Smena-8M, Amateur cameras and compact cameras (those with which we all took pictures in the 90s) Samsung Slim Zoom 145s, Samsung Fino 115s, Rollei Prego models 145, 115, 90.
Multiple exposure on Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm
Now almost all digital cameras have a multiple exposure function. It is enough to go to the camera menu and select the appropriate shooting mode, but there are nuances.
How to make a multiple exposure on Nikon cameras
Make sure your camera is capable of shooting in this mode. Find this function in the camera menu. Almost done! It remains only to select the settings and start taking pictures.
Possible settings for shooting in multiple exposure mode
- Number of shots. How many photos will be included in your final frame. For example, in the Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z7 cameras, a multiple exposure can be made up of a maximum of 10 frames.
- Overlay mode. The way the exposure of frames, their light and dark areas will interact with each other:
- Add. Exposures are superimposed without modification, lightening or darkening, as is. This is how double exposure works in film cameras;
- Average. Each frame is brightened depending on how many exposures are used for the picture. Saves from overexposure;
- Lighting. The camera uses only the brightest areas to compose the final frame. It turns out that if you photograph the night sky and put water on it on a bright sunny day, then where the sky was, there will be a piece of the image with lighter water.
- Darkening. The camera compares the images and leaves the area that is darker. As in the example above, only in reverse.
By the way, there are similar blending modes in Photoshop, and with the help of them you can make multiple exposures in a graphics editor.
- Save all exposure values. All photographs involved in a multiple exposure are additionally stored on the card, independently of each other.
- Selecting the first exposure. If you’re shooting in RAW, you can designate a frame over which you’ll overwrite everything else.

If continuous shooting is enabled, multiple exposures will be recorded as long as you hold down the shutter button. The difference from conventional continuous shooting is that all exposures taken are recorded on one frame.
For continuous shooting, set the interval between shots so that the camera takes photos with a delay when the shutter button is pressed. Then, if you shoot, for example, an athlete, separate jerks will be visible when moving.
Some camera models make life easier for the photographer, allowing you to see the preliminary result if you turn on the live view mode. But not all. For example, in the Nikon D850, you must turn off this mode, otherwise the camera will not allow you to start taking pictures.
How to make a multiple exposure on a Canon
This manufacturer has multiple exposure for many models: Canon 90D, 7D Mark II, 6D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark IV, R5, R6, RP mirrorless and others.
- In the menu, select the “Multiple exposure” mode.
- Set the number of frames that will be involved in the photo. Canon, like Nikon, allows you to choose from two to 10 frames per shot.
- Choosing a blend mode (or merge mode):
— Additive. Superimposes one picture on top of another, combining their brightness. The original frame is slightly lighter as the exposures are summed;
- Averaged. He adjusts the exposure himself where the frames overlap, so that in these places the photo does not turn out to be overexposed;
- Bright. When light and dark pixels are superimposed on each other, lighter ones remain on the final frame;
— Dark. Priority on dark areas of the image. The lighter parts of the image disappear from the frame.

The preliminary result can be monitored in Live View mode. With the Canon EOS 6D, for example, you’ll instantly see what the final merged image will look like.
- Continuous multiple exposure mode. An effect that is created during continuous shooting. It conveys dynamics and movement well. For example, when shooting athletes or dancers. A shutter speed around 1/2000 is suitable, and the number of frames in a multiple exposure is from 2 to 5.
How to make a multiple exposure on Fujifilm
Of most Fujifilm cameras, such as GFX 50R, GFX 50S, X‑A5, X‑Pro2, multiple exposures can only be made from two shots.
- Select “Multiple exposure” from the menu;
- Take a photo and press OK. Then recompose the shot and take another photo.
How to do multiple exposure on Sony
What we mean by familiar multiple exposure is not in Sony cameras. But the Sony a7R III allows you to shoot four images in a row, so that each pixel captures information from the red, green and blue channels.
Such frames have more color information, the dynamic range of the frame expands, and the noise level decreases. As a result, four images remain on your memory card, which can then be combined in graphic editors.
But even on a camera without multiple exposure support, you can prepare frames that you then combine in a graphics editor, creating the same effect.
How to make a multiple exposure in Photoshop
- We select two images — the “base” and the second, which we will impose on top.
- We drag one to the other.
- Choose a blending mode that gives a nice looking result. Most likely, the best effects will give blending modes: Burn, Dodge, Screen, Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light.
- We adjust the strength of the effect using the Opacity parameter, and also throw a mask on the upper image, on which we use a black and white brush to show or erase the overlay effect where necessary.

The advantage of the graphic editor is that you control the look of each frame in a multiple exposure, as well as complete control over the result. Creating the effect takes only a couple of minutes.
Mobile applications for creating multiple exposures
Bright shots with multiple exposure can be created on a smartphone. This will require special software. Here are a few applications that can create images with this effect:
- pixlr
- Snapseed (reduced multiple exposure mode)
- Blend Photo Editor
- square pic collage
- Blend Pic Collage
A life hack for those who didn’t like any of the above: if you drive the words “multiexpo”, “double exposure”, “photo blend” into the Play Market or AppStore, the search engine will return several dozen paid and free applications.
Results. Where to Apply the Multiple Exposure Effect
- Take a picture of the same subject at different focal lengths. This will create a dynamic zoom effect.
- Combine the portrait and the environment around the person, interior details, clothing items, close-up hands, thereby revealing the character of the hero.
- Complete the “main” frame with texture, flashes of light, bokeh. This will bring an interesting texture to the picture.
- Capture the same subject by moving or rotating the camera. You can even try to turn the camera over, thereby “tipping” the scene. Ideal for creating surreal creative shots, an unusual look at architecture and nature.
- Create motion effects for dynamic scenes using continuous shooting for multiple exposures. Suitable for reporting, filming holidays, competitions.
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