CamCyclopedia
Multi Exposures
The multi-exposure feature exposes images multiple times to the film or image sensor to get a blended image from multiple image overlays.
To take multiple exposures in film cameras, you have to wind the film in reverse after taking one frame, to expose the same film to take another. You wind the frame to the other side again after taking the second frame. You can continue repeating this process for however many exposures you want to click and then develop this particular film.
However, you can set the number of multi-exposure frames you want to shoot using digital cameras, after accessing the multi-exposure mode (or multiple exposure feature settings). This is much easier than the classical method of taking multi-exposures in a film camera.
Now, you can also use this feature on Galaxy smartphone cameras.
Multi Exposure Shoot
You can use multi-exposure on the Expert Raw app. You can download the Expert Raw app on the Galaxy Store. Go to the Settings menu on the top left of Expert RAW and click on Special Photo. You need to activate the multi-exposure icon after that to access the multi-exposure mode.
You can turn on or turn off the feature using the multi-exposure icon at the top of the screen. You can change the multi-exposure settings by selecting the ‘V’ beside the top toast if the multi-exposure feature is activated.
< Multi Exposure Photography Settings >
The Multi exposure feature provides two shutter options (Manual/Continuous) and four options to blend the images (Add/Avg./Bright/Dark) in the photography settings. It also supports taking two to nine exposure shots.
The shutter option has a continuous and manual shutter.
The continuous option lets you click pictures one after the other at a fixed interval, and the manual requires you to press the shutter button to click. The manual option shows all the superimposed results overlapped on the preview screen for careful but easy photography.
Overlay refers to the method of blending the pictures clicked. The characteristics and photography options by overlay in detail below.
Exposures refer to the number of exposures to get a multi-exposure effect. As mentioned before, you can set 2-9 exposures.
<Overlay Description and Guide>
- Additive
The Additive overlay layers up each clicked photo to generate a multi-exposure photo. It is important to click photos with an estimate of the brightness of the resultant photo as photos keep getting added with the use of this option. It is mostly used to blend a subject and a background and to achieve a cluster effect at the area where multiple clicked subjects converge.
It is recommended to use the manual capture and set the exposure to 2 when using the ‘additive’ option.
First, adjust the composition so that the object is against a simple background. Make sure to expose the background properly and underexpose the object against it to click a silhouette. Get another exposure shot to superimpose the previous one.
You will notice that the exposed area in the background on the first photo will not show the superimposed section of the other image properly or come up looking very washed up. Whereas, the superimposed second photo will turn up very clearly in the underexposed section of the first photo with the object.
Look at the pictures below. They recreate the explanation above. The area of the sky in the first image is bright enough and thus does not show much change when the image of the flowers is superimposed on it. But, flowers look very clear against the silhouette of the trees and the person.
2.Average
Average averages the pictures in each exposure and saves them as the result. The final result has the average brightness of each exposure and thus its brightness is the same as checked in the middle of taking the photos. If you shoot a quick-moving subject with the avg. option, you will see a ghost image effect.
It is recommended to use ‘continuous shooting’ when using the avg. option. The capture methods can be divided into two, i.e. clicking animated subjects and still subjects.
Fix your smartphone to a tripod and shoot a subject that is in a quick motion. This will give you an afterimage of the subject against a clear background. You need to accurately seize the timing of the subject entering the camera frame.
Next is to click a still subject. You can move the smartphone this time to get that afterimage ghost effect. This usually works when clicking a building or some flowers. For this to work, start rotating or moving the smartphone as soon as you have clicked the shutter button.
The 5 shots below have been shot continuously by rotating the smartphone at regular intervals. You can get a geometric effect, using the method mentioned before.
3. Bright
When using Bright to overlay, only the bright parts in each exposure are chosen and saved.
You can use Bright to capture a bright object against a dim background, then put a different pattern to the background, or capture a dimly lit object against a bright background to overlay a different image on top of the object.
It is recommended to use manual capture and set the exposure to 2 when using this option to take photos.
The following is an example of capturing an underexposed object against a bright background and then superimposing another photo onto the object.
First, compose the structure to shoot the hand against the light source to get its likeness against the bright background. You can adjust the brightness of the background to make sure it is bright enough. Next, capture the white flowers that are of a whiter shade than the hand. If you look at the results, the parts of the flower which appear more radiant than the hand are inscribed onto it. You can create unique pictures like this by capturing a dimply lit subject against a bright background and then clicking a bright pattern.
4.Dark
Lastly, Dark unlike Bright stores only the dark parts of the pictures for an overlay.
It works oppositely to Bright, so it can etch a dark subject or a dark pattern against a bright background.
Dark captures a dark subject against a bright background and is useful when you want to place multiple subjects in the background. The below example shows the effect of the feature. First, capture a dark subject against a nicely lit background. It is recommended to fix your smartphone on a tripod and use it, to prevent any unsteadiness in the background click. You move the second subject a little away and capture another frame. As a result, only the dark parts make up the result. This could give an effect as if the subject has been at different places at the same time.
Closing Remarks
Multi Exposures widen the horizon of expressing your thoughts and feelings in a more abstract and creative direction through photos.
Challenge yourself to click a multi-exposure photo using the capture setting combinations given above.
(It is recommended to use the avg. option first, if you are new to multi-exposures.)
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Reference
[1] It currently supports S22 upgraded to One UI 5.0 and will be supported in some more models in the future.
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