Composite

A composite combines two or more separate images, photographs, or visual elements into a single, unified picture, often using digital tools like Photoshop to seamlessly blend them. It creates a new reality, from fantastical scenes to realistic depictions impossible in one shot, used widely in advertising, digital art, and filmmaking to tell stories or achieve specific artistic visions. 

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Key Characteristics & Process

• Combination: Merges elements from different sources (photos, graphics, paintings).

• Layering: Uses digital layers to manipulate individual components separately.

• Seamless Integration: Aims for realism by blending, masking, and adjusting colors/lighting so the combined elements look like they belong together.

• Intentional Creation: Unlike a simple collage (which might show distinct parts), a composite strives for a cohesive, unified final image. 
   

Examples & Uses

• Advertising: Placing a product in an ideal setting, like clothing on models in a rainforest.

• Art & Storytelling: Creating surreal dreamscapes or depicting complex processes (like a step-by-step guide).

• Film: Digital effects (VFX) and green screen work involve compositing different visual sources. 
   

In essence, a composite illustration is a digital collage taken to a professional, believable level, allowing artists to build worlds and convey ideas beyond the limitations of a single photograph.