Digital Backdrop Help

msf

I want to offer digital backgrounds for my new studio, but in the past, when I try to remove the background out of an image, the hair line proves to be difficult and very time consuming. I dont want to spend half an hour trying to get it perfect on each photo someone orders.

I was just wondering if any photoshop masters here could give me assistance in this. I know its done on tv all the time, even automated so the computer does it automatically in real time, but the tv res is also much lower than an 8x10 print so you dont have to be as accurate as you need to be in print.

The first step I know is to get a green or blue background, something that most people dont wear. Does the shade matter?

I think the easiest way is to put the digital backdrop on the bottom layer. put the image on the layer above that, go into blending options and use the slider scales on the bottom. That or go to select color range, grab what you want, and perhaps feather that slightly and mask off the top layer. But then the additional work of working with the hair comes in. its when the hair is loose and you can somewhat see the background, also the edges theres alot of little hairs over the background thats really annoying.

R.Leonardo

I would not recommend chroma blue or green. Storm grey, white, or black is where I would start. Grey is nice as with your lightening position you can have a couple of stops different either way. To expose under giving black, or over to give white. I use these three colours with no limitations, after some practice.

In post process and dealing with hair, yep that is a tricky one. Learning layer masking is the best bet. There are many good tutorials out there. I am still learning it my self, so try the reputable PS sites for help.
There are software choices (photoshop plugins) that are used for this purpose, but they are limited. I have tried them all, and some are indeed good, but are not pixel precise enough for me, and none are good for all situations.

One other tip, it is nice to have some flyaway hair present for some realism, don't feel you need to salvage it all. I get rid of about 60-80% selectively, should I have to. Clients like.

iphoto

Photoshop cs4 has a lot of tools to help you get the perfect selection. If you use cs4 let me know the type of images you are working with and i will let you know the best tools to use.

if the background is solid color it will take you less than a min to do it. I use white background most of the time and use backdrops from http://www.fotoxtras.com and it works.

msf wrote:

I want to offer digital backgrounds for my new studio, but in the past, when I try to remove the background out of an image, the hair line proves to be difficult and very time consuming. I dont want to spend half an hour trying to get it perfect on each photo someone orders.

I was just wondering if any photoshop masters here could give me assistance in this. I know its done on tv all the time, even automated so the computer does it automatically in real time, but the tv res is also much lower than an 8x10 print so you dont have to be as accurate as you need to be in print.

The first step I know is to get a green or blue background, something that most people dont wear. Does the shade matter?

I think the easiest way is to put the digital backdrop on the bottom layer. put the image on the layer above that, go into blending options and use the slider scales on the bottom. That or go to select color range, grab what you want, and perhaps feather that slightly and mask off the top layer. But then the additional work of working with the hair comes in. its when the hair is loose and you can somewhat see the background, also the edges theres alot of little hairs over the background thats really annoying.

Art Scott

Owens Originals has some good info on the digital backgrounds....also you could make them in any photo editor.......................