What’s the most important factor in making a composite image look seamless?

Answer 1

Lighting consistency is the foundation of a seamless composite. I match the shadows, highlights, and color temperature of all elements before blending. I also use layer masks with soft feathering and edge refinement to integrate objects smoothly. Additionally, I apply atmospheric effects like subtle grain or depth of field blur to unify the elements, making them look like they naturally belong in the same scene.