General Winter:
First thank you for going to so much trouble on how to do this with GIMP. I have tried to use GIMP in the past and could not figure out how to use it. One of the problems I have with photo editing programs is what some of the features mean--such as layering. I thought layering was only when you wanted to layer, say a duplicate photo, over and to the side of it. Never could understand what that would do to improve a photo. And color grabbers or color pickers, I have never been able to make those work. Anyway, I am going to print out your whole post and when I come back from taking my husband to work (75 miles away from our house), I am going to start following your directions & trying to make it work. It may be tomorrow before I can post back.

And the last part of your post where you mentioned size of photos and color of skin tones, I had already thought of that & have been working on several photos trying to do just what you suggested so that if I do ever merge them they won't look so fake.

I will post back after I have tried everything you suggested or if I have any more questions about something I don't understand.
Thank you so much,
Sheila