Getting a whiter background?

MileHighAko

Here is a shot I just took. Is there a post processing trick on how I can make my white background "whiter"? It's not as white as I'd like it to be, and I know that I could up my power on my background lights and result in a whiter background, but without re-shooting is there some magic I'm missing?

Happy to have C&C on the photo itself as well. Thanks.

mstens

Sure, here's a quick selection, then refined edge (outputting to a new layer w/mask, then transferring that mask to an adjustment layer) then increasing brightness on the background. Leaving everything else alone. This getting closer?

Over all, nice headshot I think

CoreyD

A simple technique in photoshop would be to select the background only, pretty easy in this example (I would use the Quick Selection Tool in CS5), then a couple of adjustments layers: Curves, move the right adjustment slider to the left to "brighten" the background and you could also use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to remove any color cast if you in fact want it "whiter". Neither of these would effect the subject in the photo.

CoreyD

Mike beat me to it.

MileHighAko

Thanks for your help, works like a charm.

MDalby

Nice Adam!

Art Scott

If you shot raw and used LR to process the raw, it could simply be done with the Highlight slider........easy peasy.....

jpc

Yes, but it would also blow out his eyes. I wish LR had masking. Adjustment brush is close, but not enough parameters.

anonymouscuban

Not to beat a dead horse buy you can use the dodge tool, set to midtones and just paint the BG. Quick and it works well.