How to Create Multiple Exposures on OM System and Olympus Cameras

One of the more creative features hidden inside many OM System and Olympus cameras is Multiple Exposure mode.

While most photographers think of multiple exposures as something that requires Photoshop or external editing software, Olympus has supported surprisingly powerful in-camera multiple exposure tools for years.

OM System cameras include a surprisingly deep collection of creative computational photography tools. If you want to explore some of the other powerful in-camera features available, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Computational Photography with OM System Cameras.

Even better, there are actually several different ways to create multiple exposures directly in the camera depending on your shooting style and workflow.

In this article, I’ll walk through:

• What multiple exposure photography is
• Which OM System / Olympus cameras support it
• The different multiple exposure workflows available
• How different multiple exposure workflows change the creative process

What Is Multiple Exposure Photography?

Multiple exposure photography combines two or more images into a single photograph.

Traditionally, this effect was created in film photography by exposing the same frame multiple times. OM System and Olympus cameras recreate that process digitally inside the camera.

The results can range from subtle artistic overlays to highly abstract creative effects.

One important thing to understand is how OM System cameras blend brightness values during a multiple exposure.

In general:

• Dark areas in the first image act almost like empty space and allow details from the next exposure to show through
• Midtones from both images blend together
• Bright areas tend to dominate and can overpower or “bleach out” details from additional exposures

For example, a dark silhouette or shadow area in the base image often works well because it leaves room for the next photograph to appear within it. On the other hand, a very bright sky or highlight may remain dominant and obscure parts of the overlaid image.

Understanding this behavior makes it much easier to choose images that combine well together for multiple exposure photography.

Which OM System / Olympus Cameras Support Multiple Exposure?

Most newer Olympus and OM System cameras support some form of Multiple Exposure mode.

This includes cameras in the:

• OM-1 series
• OM-3
• OM-5 / OM-D E-M5 series
• OM-D E-M1 series including the OM-D E-M1 Mark I
• OM-D E-M10 series
• PEN and PEN-F series

The Tough TG series does not include the Multiple Exposure feature.

Some older Olympus bodies may not support all multiple exposure features or image overlay modes.

If you’re unsure, check Shooting Menu 2 → Multiple Exposure

Before You Start: Multiple Exposure Settings

Before diving into the different workflows, it helps to understand the core Multiple Exposure settings available in OM System and Olympus cameras.

How to Turn On Multiple Exposure

Old Menu System

• Shooting Menu 2 → Multiple Exposure

New Menu System

• Shooting Menu 2 → Page 1 (Computational Mode) → Multiple Exposure

Inside the menu, you’ll see:

• Multiple Exposure – ON / OFF
• Auto Gain – ON / OFF
• Overlay – ON / OFF

Auto Gain Setting

The Auto Gain setting controls how the camera handles brightness between exposures.

According to the OM System / Olympus manual:

Auto Gain OFF

• The camera does not adjust the brightness of the pictures in the multiple exposure.

Auto Gain ON

• The camera halves the brightness of each picture in the multiple exposure.

In practice, the visual differences between Auto Gain ON and OFF can vary quite a bit depending on the subject, contrast, and how the images overlap.

After experimenting with both settings, I’ve found there isn’t always a universally “correct” choice. Some images look better with Auto Gain ON, while others become more interesting and visually rich with it OFF.

The examples below show how differently Auto Gain ON and OFF can affect the final image depending on the subject and tonal overlap.

In the light bulb example, Auto Gain OFF created a brighter, more luminous result with stronger overlapping highlights.

In the flower example, Auto Gain ON produced richer and denser overlapping tones compared to the softer, lighter appearance of Auto Gain OFF.

These examples are a good reminder that Auto Gain is not simply a technical setting—it can significantly influence the artistic feel of the final multiple exposure image.

The best approach is simply to experiment with both settings and see which result better matches your creative vision.

Overlay Setting

The Overlay setting controls how the camera chooses the image used as the starting overlay for a multiple exposure.

Both Overlay ON and Overlay OFF can show an overlay image while you compose the next shot. The difference is whether you are starting from a previously selected image on the SD card or from the image you just captured in Multiple Exposure mode.

Overlay ON

Overlay ON lets you select an existing RAW image from the SD card to use as the starting overlay.

This is useful when you already have a photograph you want to build from.

Once selected, that image appears as a guide while composing the next shot, helping you align subjects and build a more intentional multiple exposure.

Overlay OFF

Overlay OFF uses the image you just captured in Multiple Exposure mode as the base for the next exposure.

This is the more direct shooting workflow. You take the first image, then compose the second image while seeing the previous exposure as a guide.

This works well when you want to create the multiple exposure immediately, with both images taken back-to-back in the same shooting session.

Quick Access Tip

Unfortunately, Multiple Exposure cannot be assigned directly to a custom button or saved to a Custom Mode on the Mode Dial.

However, it can be added it to My Menu for quicker access.

That makes the feature much faster to access in the field.

Three Multiple Exposure Workflows on OM System Cameras

What makes OM System cameras especially interesting is that there are several different workflows for creating multiple exposures.

Each works differently depending on whether you’re:

• Shooting live in the field
• Building overlays later
• Experimenting creatively

1. Standard Multiple Exposure Shooting

This is the classic multiple exposure workflow.

You activate Multiple Exposure mode before shooting and combine two images directly in-camera as you photograph them.

One huge advantage is that you can see the first image while composing the second image. That makes alignment and composition dramatically easier.

This method works especially well for planned creative shoots and intentional artistic compositions.

The main limitation is that standard shooting mode is limited to two photographs unless you use overlay.

Suggested Starting Settings

For basic multiple exposure shooting, these settings are a good starting point:

• Multiple Exposure – ON
• Auto Gain – Try both ON and OFF depending on the look you want
• Overlay – OFF for standard live shooting

2. Multiple Exposure Starting from an Existing RAW Image

This method expands the creative possibilities significantly.

Instead of stopping after two images, you can continue photographing over previously overlaid images. Effectively, this allows unlimited multiple exposure layering.

You can continue building increasingly complex overlays while still seeing the previous exposure composition live in the viewfinder.

Suggested Starting Settings

For this workflow, these settings are a good starting point:

• Initial RAW image captured normally with Multiple Exposure set to OFF
• Multiple Exposure → ON
• Auto Gain → Try both ON and OFF depending on the look you want
• Overlay → ON
• Use the Arrow Pad or Mult Selector (Joystick) to select the image that you want to Overlay, then press the OK button.

Personally, this is my favorite way to create multiple exposures because it feels far less limiting and opens up many more creative possibilities than shooting everything back-to-back in the field.

3. Image Overlay Using Existing Photographs

This may actually be the most flexible workflow of all.

Instead of creating the multiple exposure live while shooting, Image Overlay allows you to combine photographs that already exist on the SD card.

In some ways, this workflow is similar to combining images later in Photoshop. The difference is that OM System cameras let you experiment with the overlays directly in-camera without needing to move the image to a computer first.

How to Create an Image Overlay

• Press the Playback button
• While reviewing a photograph, press the OK button
• Select Image Overlay
• Select 2 Images Merge or 3 Images Merge
• Select the images to merge by pressing the OK button to check or uncheck them. The camera then provides gain controls for each image so you can adjust brightness contribution individually.
• Press OK when done.

Because the overlay is created after the photographs are already captured, this workflow gives you more time to experiment with different image combinations and exposure balances.

The Power of Image Overlay

Here’s where things get especially interesting.

Because you can overlay an image that was already overlaid previously, you can effectively create multiple exposures using far more than three images.

That opens up significantly more creative possibilities than most photographers realize.

Using Existing RAW Files for New Multiple Exposures

You can even copy photographs back onto the SD card later and use them for new multiple exposures inside the camera.

This creates a very flexible creative workflow by using a variety of existing photographs.

For example:

• You may already have a strong silhouette image
• Then later go out specifically looking for a second image to pair with it

As long as:

• The file naming structure remains correct
• The image is placed in the proper camera directory

…the camera can often use it for overlays.

One Important Limitation

In my testing, the overlay images appear to need to come from the same camera model.

For example:

• An OM-1 file would not work properly on my OM-1 Mark II for image overlay selection

At least in my testing, OM System cameras do not appear to support overlaying RAW files between different camera models.

Final Thoughts

Multiple Exposure mode is one of the most creative tools on OM System and Olympus cameras.

While many photographers associate multiple exposures with Photoshop, Olympus has quietly built powerful in-camera workflows for this type of photography for years.

The ability to:

• Shoot live overlays
• Continue layering exposures
• Combine existing SD card images

…makes these cameras surprisingly capable creative tools for photographers willing to experiment.

And once you understand the different workflows, you may find yourself using Multiple Exposure mode far more often than expected.

Want to Learn More About OM System and Olympus Cameras?

• How to Photograph Lightning with Live Composite on OM System Cameras
• How to Shoot 1:1 Magnification with the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
• Essential OM System Bird & Wildlife Photography Settings: How to React Faster in the Field