Some basic help with backgrounds

I shot this pic and a lot more of my niece this weekend using a muslin for the first time. The exposures looked OK but I am disappointed with all the creases showing up on the background. We didn't have the time to iron them out and I am wondering if there is a simple way to remove them in PP without making it look obvious? IF someone can do an edit and post the procedures used I would be VERY grateful!! Here is the pic. Thanks for helping!

Hi point-n-shoot-n, what software do you have?

Thanks for the quick reply! I am running Elements 5.0

3 Minute edit.....
Use the quick selection tool to select the girl.
duplicate the background layer.
Inverse selection.
click on the round icon with black and white in the layer palette
select exposure in increase +1
flatten and save
clone out the spot I missed on the lower right.
feather your selection 2 pixels.

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In CS3, I applied surface blur to smooth out the background. Then a hue/sat adjustment layer to darken the bg and create the effect of a background light behind the subject. Finally, another hue/sat layer with a gradient to make the light on the subject fall off toward the bottom.

WOW! Both of the results are great! Thanks for the info....now I just have to try and absorb the information so I can apply it. Thanks again guys!

Here's a quick and dirty.

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Love it sports dude. How did you do it?

You should also save yourself any PP time by moving your subject farther away from the b/g, which also makes it easier to independently light, as well as blurring things out a bit. Lastly, wad up muslins to store them, and the wrinkles become randomized in position, rather than the regular creases.

scorpio_e wrote in post #6197140
Love it sports dude. How did you do it?

Fortunately, your background was pretty uniform and contrasted from the subject, so cutting the background was pretty quick.

I'm using Photoshop CS3

3-4 clicks of the magic wand (Tolerance 15 and 30)
Refined the edge (feather, contract, etc..)
Add new black layer behind the subject.
Added a grid layer that I already had on top of the black

I think the white background does more for this picture than the black.

poloman wrote in post #6193706
3 Minute edit.....
Use the quick selection tool to select the girl.
duplicate the background layer.
Inverse selection.
click on the round icon with black and white in the layer palette
select exposure in increase +1
flatten and save
clone out the spot I missed on the lower right.
feather your selection 2 pixels.

I tried to figure out the sequence listed above and have a few queries remaining. When you say "select the girl" do you mean separate her from the background using the magic extractor? I tried this and don't think it looked right at all. I also couldn't find the round icon you mentioned or the ability to select exposure. I have to mention that I am a basic newbie to PP, except for some tutorials that I have learned from you-tube.....I basically need a click by click instruction for the first time around or I am lost.........heeeellll​llllllppppppppp!!!!:o

I did this edit in CS3 and unfortunately am unfamiliar with elements. You need to select the girl in any way you can. Invert that selection so that the background is selected. Once you have done that you should be able to increase the brightness of the background and get the right effect. I'll help you in any way I can. Check help in your program with the topic "selection".