Choose the contradiction
Describe the impossible relationship in plain language: a small object appears monumental, or two spaces meet unexpectedly. This statement helps you decide which details must stay convincing.
Match the visual conditions
When combining images, compare light direction, viewpoint, sharpness, and colour. An inconsistency may be intentional, but decide it deliberately. Unexamined mismatches can distract from the intended uncertainty.
Keep the source files
Work in reversible stages and preserve the originals. Compare the finished image with a simpler version; if an added effect contributes no meaning, remove it.