Photoshop- White background!

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13 May 2008 - 9:25 AM

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miptog

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13 May 2008 - 9:39 AM

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If the shots are similar to those on your PF, one way is to select the background and then use curves to lighten it.

Would be better to properly light the background if thats possible.

Henchard

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13 May 2008 - 10:33 AM

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If you're background isn't white you are not lighting it properly; it's best to get it right in the camera first time if you can. The background should be lit about half a stop more than your key light.

However, open your photo in Photoshop and open a curves adjustment layer, take the white eye dropper on the curves control panel and click on your image where the background is grey. It should turn white. If your subject is then too light (depends how grey your background was) paint (on your subject) on the white layer mask to the right of the curves layer with a black brush to allow the original (unadjusted layer) to show through. If you make a mistake paint with a white brush to redo. When satisfied flatten the layers

cameracat (e2 Member)

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13 May 2008 - 2:39 PM

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Agree with Steve and others regarding setting at time of shoot...!

However if you arrive at the point where you have taken the shot, And are editing on a computer, THIS may help if the backdrop does not have an all over white appearance.....!

I'm assuming you are using Photoshop, CS or Elements....!

First deal with the image via your chosen RAW workflow, But don't make any adjustments at this time....!

Next assuming you have converted to a TIFF.......Use the levels control White point dropper to make the areas of the background that are not 100% white.......White....Ok! so the subject may darken a tad at this point.......Don't panic.....

Next Go to layers and create a New Adjustment layer for Levels.....Then adjust the slider to brighten your subject to taste.

Using this method will in most cases, Leave the background at 100% white........ However it's success is determined by how far out the original image is.......!

Either way it's worth a try........BUT it's far better to get the job done correctly at the time of shooting........As always....

Simon_P

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13 May 2008 - 11:37 PM

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I would have to disagree about over exposing the background by ½ stop, that isn’t enough in my experience, to get a pure white background you would need to overexpose by 1 ½ - 2 stops, (depending on background material and available work space) but need to have subject far enough forward that they don’t fall in the light spill from the background reflected light. If you don’t want a pure clinical white you can drop off the over exposure value as desired.

Digital fix, as usual, there are several of methods to do the same thing and have used most of the afore mentioned methods, my current tool of choice is CS3’s replace color tool, although from a studio shoot with all the lights I need to do the job it isn’t required.

Pete (ePHOTOzine Staff)

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14 May 2008 - 8:04 AM

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Quote: you'll get white with 2 stops more you'll also get a lot of 'blow back' of light.

To avoid this use a tip I picked up from Michael Birt Turn off the main light/lights and with the model in place take a test shot with just the background lights firing. You should have a silhouette. If you see the blow back, known as spill, on any area of the model adjust the model position, the background lights or add black mask boards to the sides to block the spill. When you have a perfect silhouette with a clean white background you can light the foreground subject.