PS ... HELP!

[NatsRoses]

Hi everyone! I took this photo of a friend's kids. I really like how it came out, especially because the boy (who never wants to be in pictures) sat down for 2 seconds to hug his sister. Unfortunately mom stuck her hand in, I was wondering if there is anyone here who could help me PS it out. I know it should be fairly simple with the layers and white background, but I still can't get my head around CS. Thanks!!

Also, what do you think of the conversion? It looks abit flat to me...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h168/Natsroses/IMG_9661.jpg

[savone]

I dont have PS at work, but what I would do is use the clone tool to remove the hand. You dont have to be to careful because of the next step.

I would then make a selection around the children and expand it by 2 or so pixels. Save the selection.

Invert the selection then copy and paste (just copied sheet to new layer)

Select the new layer and add gaussian blur, a lot of it. This will soften the background and remove the creases in the sheets.

Now select the original/background layer and load the selection. Copy and paste the children into a new layer and move it to the top.

add contrast/sharpening or whatever to the kids.

just my thoughts....

[Kristy]

Here's my quick edit...

Cloned out the hand... Cloned in some highlights in the darker parts of the background. Gaussian blur as suggested by Savone... sharpened lightness channel of Lab Mode,
Added color balance to give a slight warm tone (I like my B&W's this way), and shapened RGB just a bit more... oh yeah.. added a little extra contrast too. Cut shot.. the mother is going to love this.. :)

[NatsRoses]

Savone thanks a bunch for taking time to explain this. Unfortunately I don't even know how to "expand" or "invert" ... probably super simple. I just recently aquired a Mac and Photoshop CS and a training DVD on how to use it, but i'm still figuering out both. I have a 2 year old and an 8 month old and little time to sit down and actually watch the DVD ... ahhh those single days when we could sit for hours in front of the computer with not a care in the world ... but, then again, I wouldn't have my beautiful free subjects :D
Ok, enough excuses for now, it's 1:30 am here , so off to play with the CS!
Thanks again!

[NatsRoses]

OMG! Kristy thanks so much! ... wow! and you did this in the short time I replied to Savone, I'm impressed!! Love how it came out :) Yes, I think she will love it too.

[Kristy]

Thank you.... not to worry about your PS skills... You'll learn quickly enough. I've been using it less than 9 months and can't believe how much I have learned. I also have 2 little ones... 2 years now and 6-years.. work full time, and do photography on the side. Talk about little time. My best time is like yours.. wee hours in the night when we should be sleeping! Be patient and you will learn quickly.... Your photo is lovely! :)

[NatsRoses]

I hear ya Kristy ... I always tell myself I'll go to bed early, but hey I'll take any alone time I can get! Thanks again for your help and nice remark.
2 kids, work full time and photography on the side? I don't know how you do it!! You're my new hero :) LOL

[sando]

PS is very daunting at first... except if you get right into it you begin to see how things in it are fairly simple. I had never used PS until 3 months ago and taught myself the basics in a month. Now each week I seem to be finding new and better ways to produce my work. It's ALL about learning.

[queenbee288]

That is a very cute picture. Great edit Kristy.

[song4themoon]

Very nice pic.

Here my quick edit....

I cleaned up the background using the clone stamp and spot healing brush. I left the darker part by the feet then. I brightened and added contrast. I reduced noise. Then I selected roughly the dark shadow part on their feet, selected feather of 15 and brightened it. Then just a bit of touch up to clean it up with the clone stamp. I left the few folds by the feet on purpose to keep a natural look, just reduced them to a minimum. Total: 5min

I also made a 5x7 crop version since a square will be hard to get printed

[NatsRoses]

Sando and Queenbee, thanks for the nice comments and advice. I will try to practice a little bit everyday to learn, I just get so frustated sometimes (for example last night), I feel like I go 1 step forward 2 steps back :confused:
Song in 5 mins? wow, that's great! maybe I'll get there soon, I'll defenitely would have more pics ready fro print, for now they are just sitting in my picture folder. Thanks for your help, cropping and lesson, they look great.

[Shoreliner11]

I would then make a selection around the children and expand it by 2 or so pixels. Save the selection.

Can you tell me how to expand the selection...its something I have been noticing needs to be done when I'm selecting. Thanks
Aaron

[song4themoon]

Aaron, I think Savonne was talking about a feather of two

[Titus213]

Some great advice here. If you want to get a quick start on Photoshop check out these free tutorials:

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=149