Does any one know any tutorials on how to combine vector art and photos?

If you don't know any tutorials could you please offer some techniques. Any help is appreciated. It is a very cool effect and I would like to know how to do it.Does any one know any tutorials on how to combine vector art and photos?
image link, portrait with illustration designs,


http://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/m…





this can mostly be done in illustrator, an image from photoshop can be placed, and other designs drawn around, though some illustrations are completely converted to all vector art, and photos removed,


http://www.vexels.net/tutorials.php





so you would use illustrator, import photo, design layers of patterns, add filter effects and blending,





adobe photoshop, and illustrator,


corel draw and paintshop-pro and painter,





others,


Gimp ~photo editor,


http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.h…


Inkscape illustrator


http://sourceforge.net/projects/inkscape…





DrawPlus


http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/softwar…


PhotoPlus


http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/softwar…


..Does any one know any tutorials on how to combine vector art and photos?
Most vector programs import a bitmap. Vector programs work best as a stack of layers. Some vector programs let you jump into a bitmap editing mode. The one software that I am aware of that seamlessly works with both graphics modes is CorelDraw and that software scares me to death because the files can corrupt from work session to work session. I always make a new SaveAs... version of the file whenever I must use CorelDraw.





The layers is where the available options are to blend mode in all of the vector programs.





I'd need a link as an example of what you're trying to do.





edit::::::::::::::::::


nice examples. They are masking out the background of the bitmap, save as a new file with a clear background -- probably as a .PNG file with a clear alpha color background, then using a vector art program to import the bitmap into the stack of layers containing vector art.





Start out with learning how to mask ';organic'; shapes using Channels in a photo program. Link below for a photoshop technique.





For vector art, I've come to know, and love Xara. Xara is affordable and produces predictable results.





The other way to mask in a photo program is to use a Paintbrush or use a Pen tool around the bitmap. Masking, with Selecting is how photo programs do their magic.