Mindy...a few from a session last week

Arbib · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 11:32 PM

I used a white BG, so I experimented with Drop-In BGs from my software.
Trying to be more selective. This is helping me learn how to do this..The hair can be a B***ch !!

What do you think...??

soupman · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 07:08 AM

I know what you mean. The halo effect is very difficult to control. Also, I haven't learned an easy way to eliminate the background other than using the background eraser tool and doing it manually.

I try to use a complementary background in the photo to what I am looking for in the final photo. In other words, I use the green background if my final background will have a lot of green. Then the halo around the hair is not obvious.

Hdvannjr · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 10:01 AM

Aribib, Your first posting looks good except for a small area under the chin bordering the hair and purple drop-in. The second in right on. The third is off at the hair line. Nice photos.
David

Arbib · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hdvannjr

Aribib, Your first posting looks good except for a small area under the chin bordering the hair and purple drop-in. The second in right on. The third is off at the hair line. Nice photos.
David

Is there a 'Secret" when using the selection tool (Magic Wand in PSP 10) to keep stray hair from being cut up, or, do I feather 3-6 pixels to eliminate them?..I have been trying to Clone-Out the stray hairs with a white BG, than when I Drop in a black BG, I still get some halo.

...Do I need to use my Clone Brush at 100% hardness to avoid halo's?? .....

This would be a good topic for a tutorial on how change BGs without getting halos around stray hair clusters and the like.

RSStory · #5 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hdvannjr

Aribib, Your first posting looks good except for a small area under the chin bordering the hair and purple drop-in. The second in right on. The third is off at the hair line. Nice photos.
David

On the first one. There is the area under the hat against the purple as well.

The second is not right on as it is the same as the 3rd but the lighter background doesnt let us see the halo at this size.

And of course the third is not good at all either.

As for the second and third shots. The background is the least of the problems. You need to work on lighting and posing before you move on to trying to drop in backgrounds.

There are some techniques involved in lighting shots that help with dropping in a background. That may be a good tutorial for another day. It is also important to use a background that alows for an easy cut out and that involves using light as well.

Often times people want to jump right to the advanced stuff because it is fun. Try learning a little more about the basics and then you will find it much easier to do those things and will have much better end results.

I would much rather see a well lit and well posed image on a boring white background as opposed to a bad image dropped onto a different background.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but sometimes that is the way the truth sounds.

Scott

Hdvannjr · #6 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 03:20 PM

Welcome to ShotCritic, a premiere photographic community dedicated to constructive, not destructive, critiques of photographs by photographers of all levels of experience.

Let me correct myself, Arbib, the second one looks as if (although it really may not be because of the light backdrop) right on. I have no experience with Chroma Key backdrops, but see if your version of PS has an Extract Filter. This may help your cause. There are plenty of tutorials online including a You Tube video. Just Google Extract Filter.
This may be the answer you are looking for. David

Arbib · #7 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 04:31 PM

Responses in Message - Blue -

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSStory

On the first one. There is the area under the hat against the purple as well.

The second is not right on as it is the same as the 3rd but the lighter background doesnt let us see the halo at this size.

And of course the third is not good at all either.

As for the second and third shots. The background is the least of the problems. You need to work on lighting and posing before you move on to trying to drop in backgrounds.

There are some techniques involved in lighting shots that help with dropping in a background. That may be a good tutorial for another day. It is also important to use a background that alows for an easy cut out and that involves using light as well.

Point Taken...But...What is the best way to insure that the hair is not blocked out partially by the selection of the BG. I realize I need better light on the BG. But, is that the "only" answer?..Is a ChromeKey BG the Answer?...Or ????
As far extra lights... I have a Sunpak 383, Olympus FL36, And a Sunpak AF5000 I can use as slaves to light the BG with Umbrellas aimed at it. (I use a Photogenic 320ws (Key) plus a Sunpak 411 with Original Equipment AC Cord (fill, yes, that great flash of the 80's)....

Often times people want to jump right to the advanced stuff because it is fun. Try learning a little more about the basics and then you will find it much easier to do those things and will have much better end results.

Well, we are all guilty here! We all have tried "advanced" techniques to learn more and master more..We, very often have to take a few steps forward and a couple steps backwards as we are challenging ourselves to improve our skill levels.

I would much rather see a well lit and well posed image on a boring white background as opposed to a bad image dropped onto a different background.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but sometimes that is the way the truth sounds.

No Problem,, I am a man..I can take it..I asked for help, so..........

Scott

RSStory · #8 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hdvannjr

Welcome to ShotCritic, a premiere photographic community dedicated to constructive, not destructive, critiques of photographs by photographers of all levels of experience.

Repeating the same thing over and over in your post is a bit childish.

My comments are all valid and constructive. You may not like them but that is not my problem.

Scott

RSStory · #9 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 06:02 PM

As far as hair being blocked out or whatever when you do the cutout... You will almost always get a little of that and you have to go in and clean it up. Easiest way, and what I did on your shot here is to zoom way in. I was at 500% and use a small soft edged brush to clone it out. Only use the edge of the brush and go easy with it or you will get some mis-shaping going on with the hair. The bigger problem is when you have hair that isnt combed properly or something and you see the background through it. That can be tougher to deal with. As for the color of the background? It can be anything. The example I posted before from the tattoo place for example was shot on an orange paper. The key is to make sure your background is evenly lit.

Here are your 2 shots with somethings I want you to look at pointed out. There are other issues but these all jump out and ruin the shot for me. On the black background I went in and fixed the halo only around her hair. It isnt perfect but with only a web image to work with I did the best I could.

Arbib · #10 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSStory

As far as hair being blocked out or whatever when you do the cutout... You will almost always get a little of that and you have to go in and clean it up. Easiest way, and what I did on your shot here is to zoom way in. I was at 500% and use a small soft edged brush to clone it out. Only use the edge of the brush and go easy with it or you will get some mis-shaping going on with the hair.

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Snip >>
The bigger problem is when you have hair that isnt combed properly or something and you see the background through it. That can be tougher to deal with.
<<Snip

Yes, The small fix on the face, is a no brainier...But the Stray hair on the scalp is challenging....I tried a different pose. and used a feather of 6 pixels to select the not so white BG. (no lights on it..Guess I have to start lighting the BG..

)...The end result was better....

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As for the color of the background? It can be anything. The example I posted before from the tattoo place for example was shot on an orange paper. The key is to make sure your background is evenly lit.

Here are your 2 shots with somethings I want you to look at pointed out. There are other issues but these all jump out and ruin the shot for me. On the black background I went in and fixed the halo only around her hair. It isnt perfect but with only a web image to work with I did the best I could.

Thanks for the Diagrammed photos,