Pillow – Blending multiple Images together

This Python script demonstrates how to blend multiple images using the Pillow (PIL) library.

It opens three images, resizes them to the same dimensions, and then overlays them onto a blank canvas. The blending is achieved using the paste method with transparency masks, allowing the images to merge smoothly.

Finally, the script saves and displays the blended result. This technique is useful for creating artistic compositions, overlays, or image processing applications.

from PIL import Image

# Open the images to blend
image1 = Image.open("image1.jpg")
image2 = Image.open("image2.jpg")
image3 = Image.open("image3.jpg")

# Resize images to the same dimensions
width, height = 800, 600
image1 = image1.resize((width, height))
image2 = image2.resize((width, height))
image3 = image3.resize((width, height))

# Create a blank image to blend the images onto
blend_image = Image.new("RGB", (width, height), "white")

# Blend images onto the blank image
blend_image.paste(image1, (0, 0))
blend_image.paste(image2, (0, 0), mask=image2)
blend_image.paste(image3, (0, 0), mask=image3)

# Save the blended image
blend_image.save("blended_image.jpg")

# Display the blended image
blend_image.show()

Code Explanation

1. Importing the Required Modules:
   • from PIL import Image: Imports the Image module from the Pillow library, which is used for working with images.
2. Opening Images to Blend:
   • image1, image2, image3: Opens three images (image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg) to blend together.
3. Resizing Images:
   • width, height = 800, 600: Defines the desired width and height for the resized images.
   • image1.resize((width, height)), image2.resize((width, height)), image3.resize((width, height)): Resizes each image to the specified dimensions to ensure they are compatible for blending.
4. Creating a Blank Image for Blending:
   • blend_image = Image.new("RGB", (width, height), "white"): Creates a new blank image (blend_image) with the specified dimensions and white background.
5. Blending Images Onto the Blank Image:
   • blend_image.paste(image1, (0, 0)): Pastes image1 onto the blank image at the top-left corner.
   • blend_image.paste(image2, (0, 0), mask=image2): Pastes image2 onto the blank image, using image2 as a mask for transparency.
   • blend_image.paste(image3, (0, 0), mask=image3): Pastes image3 onto the blank image, using image3 as a mask for transparency.
6. Saving the Blended Image:
   • blend_image.save("blended_image.jpg"): Saves the blended image as blended_image.jpg.
7. Displaying the Blended Image:
   • blend_image.show(): Displays the blended image using the default image viewer.

This code example demonstrates the process of blending multiple images together using the Pillow library, including resizing, blending, and saving the composite image.

Output

The output of the above code example is a new image file named “blended_image.jpg” containing a composite image created by blending the three input images (image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg). This composite image will be displayed on your screen if your environment supports image viewing when the blend_image.show() method is called.

The blended image will have the following characteristics:

• It will have the same dimensions as the resized input images (800×600).
• It will contain elements from all three input images blended together, with transparency handled appropriately based on the masks provided.
• The final appearance of the blended image will depend on the content and transparency of the input images used for blending.