Help: Background issues

The plan was to do this session in a studio, but last minute things came up and i had to do it in a banquet hall with limited gear. So picked up some Felt, and used an old background stand i made a while ago.. But let me get to the point.

I have alot of shots where everything is great besides the background.
Example: (click for larger image)

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Here is one i tired, but id like something a little more professional looking..

Originally it was completely black all around her, and it looked like she was floating. This was a standing shot, so it just didnt look right.

So i cut out a section of the background from another image, and then layered it on to the one i was working on. But that took WAY to much time!!!

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heres my go at it...

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That's pretty neat.

What did you use to get her on a complete black background. I'm reading some tutorials now. And i am going to try the background eraser tool.

I'm looking to keep it simple, If anything maybe a gradient background of some sort...

I'm also looking for steps/tips because i have several pictures where the background does not work.

You've got such easy images to mask the girl out of that you should only be limited by your own creativity. Masking her off the the black background makes is very easy to take her onto any of your own images that you might want to use as a background.

It is hard to make all her lines look smooth with such a small version of the image and I wasn't about to spend a great deal of time finessing my selection.

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Here is the best way to make the background completely black (I think...)

1. Unlock the layer. Duplicate it. Add a new layer and fill it with black and move it to the bottom. It should look like this.

Simply replace the background with a faux one that you like. You can manufacture this with brushes, gradients, blurs, textures. I would stick to something simple though. Just plain black or white or gray will work well. You might try a gradient with a black background to accentuate a feeling of lift. Experiment. Check out the quick selection tool. If you are not familiar with selection, study it for a while. You will need it again...and again and again and again.

I don't think you mentioned what software you're using. If it is CS3, the quick select tool works well to make a mask. Switch channels to get the best contrast on various parts of the outline. I think for a shot like this, a simple background light works nicely, and you can easily experiment with a range of background colors by using a hue/sat adjustment layer applied only to the background.

Exactly!!!..
Love it.. Working on one now.

I just want to really do a good job making them. Just in case she wants to print.

We are re-shooting in a studio but thats not till thanksgiving weekend. 8-(

PS: I am using CS3

For images where she is standing, and not in a jump.

Are there any suggestions as to what i could do?? I dont want her to look like she is floating...Maybe a gradient reflection? How do i do that?

Here is my first attempt...

I want to maybe try adding a reverse reflection under her.. Wonder what that would look like. Ill see if i can find a tutorial but if not.. anyone know how to do it?

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TomTomTuning wrote in post #6524084
For images where she is standing, and not in a jump.

Are there any suggestions as to what i could do?? I dont want her to look like she is floating...Maybe a gradient reflection? How do i do that?

Here's one way (out of endless possibilities). I used a reflected gradient on this one to create the fake lighting falling from the left. Then just drew in the shadow and blurred it.

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Wow, another life saver!!!!! That is fantastic. I'm guessing you just painted in the bottom left corner after doing the reflected gradient???

Any other effects you might have up your sleeve that i can try?

Is there a way to change the feather of a gradient, with out changing the over all size?

TomTomTuning wrote in post #6524830
Wow, another life saver!!!!! That is fantastic. I'm guessing you just painted in the bottom left corner after doing the reflected gradient???

I hit Ctrl-T (free transform) on the gradient layer and squeezed one end of the gradient to taper it. Also painted on a mask to fade it out toward the right.

I make them up as I go along. That's the fun of it!

I think there's a way if you open the gradient dialog box and play with the opacity sliders. Rather than bother with that, I would just put a mask on the gradient layer and use a soft brush at low opacity to alter the feather.

Peano wrote in post #6525065
I hit Ctrl-T (free transform) on the gradient layer and squeezed one end of the gradient to taper it. Also painted on a mask to fade it out toward the right.

I make them up as I go along. That's the fun of it!


I think there's a way if you open the gradient dialog box and play with the opacity sliders. Rather than bother with that, I would just put a mask on the gradient layer and use a soft brush at low opacity to alter the feather.

Agh, brilliant. I checked out your site. You have skills, thats all i can say.

I love the image where you made it from day to night, simply AMAZING!

I will play with these technique and see what i can come up with.

Thanks again!