Background Too Bright

How do I go about reducing the brightness of this background? I tried masking off the face and adjusting levels, curves, etc., but it didn't do anything. I realize I also got a little too much spill on this high key attempt. Any suggestions for corrections?

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It's out of focus so there's no point messing around with it. It would've been a nice shot. Background looks fine to me.

There are probably a ton of ways to do this, but here's one that I quickly thought of:

- Select your subject and make a new layer (cmd or ctrl j) with this selection
- Above your original layer, add a color adjustment layer (choose a light to medium gray)
- Above this layer, add a levels adjustment layer and drop your shadows slider to make things look slightly darker than you would like
- Finally, reduce the opacity of your color adjustment layer until you get the look you like.

Like I said, probably several ways to do this.

Best of luck...

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First of all, Tim, I agree with your quote "grumpy old bastard in training."

Second, thank you Nursedad, for taking the time to make the necessary adjustments. I'll try the layers, I'm quite the novice when it comes to PS, so I'll have to play around with the steps that you took to achieve the toned down background.

I would use the pen tool to extract the boy onto a new layer. Then you can adjust the layer without effecting the boy. Maybe auto color/level/contrast. If it isn't there yet tweak each of those settings manually.

bagtagsell wrote in post #3137950
I would use the pen tool to extract the boy onto a new layer. Then you can adjust the layer without effecting the boy. Maybe auto color/level/contrast. If it isn't there yet tweak each of those settings manually.

Pen tool is not a good method for cutting out a clean mask ! takes to long on intricate areas like hair and will never give you really good mask .

Rod

It's a PITA unless you take the time to learn it AND use it all the time so you don't forget the little tricks.
I wouldn't change the brightness of the background & prefer the white to the gray. The problem is the spill on the face, & I'd fix it with a Layer Mask: It's easily reversible: Airport runway shoot

More detailed methods:
Mixed Lighting Issues Solved By Using RAW Format!!!


RAitch Tutorial - Burn and Dodge with a Layer

Some links at the bottom of this thread may help:
Mustang & B-17 + PS