overlay two images in android to set an imageview

You can skip the complex Canvas manipulation and do this entirely with Drawables, using LayerDrawable. You have one of two choices: You can either define it in XML then simply set the image, or you can configure a LayerDrawable dynamically in code.

Solution #1 (via XML):

Create a new Drawable XML file, let's call it layer.xml:

<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item android:drawable="@drawable/t" />
    <item android:drawable="@drawable/tt" />
</layer-list>

Now set the image using that Drawable:

testimage.setImageDrawable(getResources().getDrawable(R.layout.layer));

Solution #2 (dynamic):

Resources r = getResources();
Drawable[] layers = new Drawable[2];
layers[0] = r.getDrawable(R.drawable.t);
layers[1] = r.getDrawable(R.drawable.tt);
LayerDrawable layerDrawable = new LayerDrawable(layers);
testimage.setImageDrawable(layerDrawable);

(I haven't tested this code so there may be a mistake, but this general outline should work.)

ok just so you know there is a program out there that's called DroidDraw. It can help you draw objects and try them one on top of the other. I tried your solution but I had animation under the smaller image so that didn't work. But then I tried to place one image in a relative layout that's suppose to be under first and then on top of that I drew the other image that is suppose to overlay and everything worked great. So RelativeLayout, DroidDraw and you are good to go :) Simple, no any kind of jiggery pockery :) and here is a bit of code for ya:

The logo is going to be on top of shazam background image.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
android:id="@+id/widget30"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
>
<ImageView
android:id="@+id/widget39"
android:layout_width="219px"
android:layout_height="225px"
android:src="@drawable/shazam_bkgd"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
>
</ImageView>
<ImageView
android:id="@+id/widget37"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="@drawable/shazam_logo"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
>
</ImageView>
</RelativeLayout>

You can use the code below to solve the problem or download demo here

Create two functions to handle each.

First, the canvas is drawn and the images are drawn on top of each other from point (0,0)

On button click

public void buttonMerge(View view) {

        Bitmap bigImage = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), R.drawable.img1);
        Bitmap smallImage = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), R.drawable.img2);
        Bitmap mergedImages = createSingleImageFromMultipleImages(bigImage, smallImage);

        img.setImageBitmap(mergedImages);
    }

Function to create an overlay.

private Bitmap createSingleImageFromMultipleImages(Bitmap firstImage, Bitmap secondImage){

    Bitmap result = Bitmap.createBitmap(firstImage.getWidth(), firstImage.getHeight(), firstImage.getConfig());
    Canvas canvas = new Canvas(result);
    canvas.drawBitmap(firstImage, 0f, 0f, null);
    canvas.drawBitmap(secondImage, 10, 10, null);
    return result;
}

Read more

Its a bit late answer, but it covers merging images from urls using Picasso

MergeImageView

import android.annotation.TargetApi;
import android.content.Context;
import android.graphics.Bitmap;
import android.graphics.BitmapFactory;
import android.graphics.Canvas;
import android.graphics.Color;
import android.os.AsyncTask;
import android.os.Build;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.util.SparseArray;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import com.squareup.picasso.Picasso;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.List;

public class MergeImageView extends ImageView {

    private SparseArray<Bitmap> bitmaps = new SparseArray<>();
    private Picasso picasso;
    private final int DEFAULT_IMAGE_SIZE = 50;
    private int MIN_IMAGE_SIZE = DEFAULT_IMAGE_SIZE;
    private int MAX_WIDTH = DEFAULT_IMAGE_SIZE * 2, MAX_HEIGHT = DEFAULT_IMAGE_SIZE * 2;
    private String picassoRequestTag = null;

    public MergeImageView(Context context) {
        super(context);
    }

    public MergeImageView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
    }

    public MergeImageView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr);
    }

    @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP)
    public MergeImageView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr, int defStyleRes) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr, defStyleRes);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isInEditMode() {
        return true;
    }

    public void clearResources() {
        if (bitmaps != null) {
            for (int i = 0; i < bitmaps.size(); i++)
                bitmaps.get(i).recycle();
            bitmaps.clear();
        }
        // cancel picasso requests
        if (picasso != null && AppUtils.ifNotNullEmpty(picassoRequestTag))
            picasso.cancelTag(picassoRequestTag);
        picasso = null;
        bitmaps = null;
    }

    public void createMergedBitmap(Context context, List<String> imageUrls, String picassoTag) {
        picasso = Picasso.with(context);
        int count = imageUrls.size();
        picassoRequestTag = picassoTag;

        boolean isEven = count % 2 == 0;
        // if url size are not even make MIN_IMAGE_SIZE even
        MIN_IMAGE_SIZE = DEFAULT_IMAGE_SIZE + (isEven ? count / 2 : (count / 2) + 1);
        // set MAX_WIDTH and MAX_HEIGHT to twice of MIN_IMAGE_SIZE
        MAX_WIDTH = MAX_HEIGHT = MIN_IMAGE_SIZE * 2;
        // in case of odd urls increase MAX_HEIGHT
        if (!isEven) MAX_HEIGHT = MAX_WIDTH + MIN_IMAGE_SIZE;

        // create default bitmap
        Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createScaledBitmap(BitmapFactory.decodeResource(context.getResources(), R.drawable.ic_wallpaper),
                MIN_IMAGE_SIZE, MIN_IMAGE_SIZE, false);

        // change default height (wrap_content) to MAX_HEIGHT
        int height = Math.round(AppUtils.convertDpToPixel(MAX_HEIGHT, context));
        setMinimumHeight(height * 2);

        // start AsyncTask
        for (int index = 0; index < count; index++) {
            // put default bitmap as a place holder
            bitmaps.put(index, bitmap);
            new PicassoLoadImage(index, imageUrls.get(index)).execute();
            // if you want parallel execution use
            // new PicassoLoadImage(index, imageUrls.get(index)).(AsyncTask.THREAD_POOL_EXECUTOR);
        }
    }

    private class PicassoLoadImage extends AsyncTask<String, Void, Bitmap> {

        private int index = 0;
        private String url;

        PicassoLoadImage(int index, String url) {
            this.index = index;
            this.url = url;
        }

        @Override
        protected Bitmap doInBackground(String... params) {
            try {
                // synchronous picasso call
                return picasso.load(url).resize(MIN_IMAGE_SIZE, MIN_IMAGE_SIZE).tag(picassoRequestTag).get();
            } catch (IOException e) {
            }
            return null;
        }

        @Override
        protected void onPostExecute(Bitmap output) {
            super.onPostExecute(output);
            if (output != null)
                bitmaps.put(index, output);

            // create canvas
            Bitmap.Config conf = Bitmap.Config.RGB_565;
            Bitmap canvasBitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(MAX_WIDTH, MAX_HEIGHT, conf);
            Canvas canvas = new Canvas(canvasBitmap);
            canvas.drawColor(Color.WHITE);

            // if height and width are equal we have even images
            boolean isEven = MAX_HEIGHT == MAX_WIDTH;
            int imageSize = bitmaps.size();
            int count = imageSize;

            // we have odd images
            if (!isEven) count = imageSize - 1;
            for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
                Bitmap bitmap = bitmaps.get(i);
                canvas.drawBitmap(bitmap, bitmap.getWidth() * (i % 2), bitmap.getHeight() * (i / 2), null);
            }
            // if images are not even set last image width to MAX_WIDTH
            if (!isEven) {
                Bitmap scaledBitmap = Bitmap.createScaledBitmap(bitmaps.get(count), MAX_WIDTH, MIN_IMAGE_SIZE, false);
                canvas.drawBitmap(scaledBitmap, scaledBitmap.getWidth() * (count % 2), scaledBitmap.getHeight() * (count / 2), null);
            }
            // set bitmap
            setImageBitmap(canvasBitmap);
        }
    }
}

xml

<com.example.MergeImageView
    android:id="@+id/iv_thumb"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

Example

List<String> urls = new ArrayList<>();
String picassoTag = null;
// add your urls
((MergeImageView)findViewById(R.id.iv_thumb)).
        createMergedBitmap(MainActivity.this, urls,picassoTag);

this is my solution:

    public Bitmap Blend(Bitmap topImage1, Bitmap bottomImage1, PorterDuff.Mode Type) {

        Bitmap workingBitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(topImage1);
        Bitmap topImage = workingBitmap.copy(Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888, true);

        Bitmap workingBitmap2 = Bitmap.createBitmap(bottomImage1);
        Bitmap bottomImage = workingBitmap2.copy(Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888, true);

        Rect dest = new Rect(0, 0, bottomImage.getWidth(), bottomImage.getHeight());
        new BitmapFactory.Options().inPreferredConfig = Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888;
        bottomImage.setHasAlpha(true);
        Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bottomImage);
        Paint paint = new Paint();

        paint.setXfermode(new PorterDuffXfermode(Type));

        paint.setFilterBitmap(true);
        canvas.drawBitmap(topImage, null, dest, paint);
        return bottomImage;
    }

usage :

imageView.setImageBitmap(Blend(topBitmap, bottomBitmap, PorterDuff.Mode.SCREEN));

or

imageView.setImageBitmap(Blend(topBitmap, bottomBitmap, PorterDuff.Mode.OVERLAY));

and the results :

Overlay mode :

Screen mode: