Removing background with lots of hair

fredjclaus · September 20, 2011

I've decided that all in all my best option is the get photoshop CS5 and possibly lightroom 3 as well. I've been toying with greenscreen work and it has not been working out well for me as some dance studios I want to work with have green outfits. I was looking to photograph on a white background and then remove it in photoshop and import my own backgrounds. What is the best way to remove a white background in photoshop where the person being photographed is blonde and has a lot of hair? I've been toying with the quick select tool (Still learning it) and found that the white between the hairs does not go away. What do you all do?

If I can learn how to use this program I will be doing events, portraits, and team (dance) pictures with the white background, but I need to practice using photoshop first.

BinaryFx · September 20, 2011

Fred, I am staying with your current problem for now - working with green screen software. Regarding the green costume and screen, can you post a link to a sample of both the original on green and the result when the software removes the green background and the costume?

The software is presumably doing a decent job of removing the green background and isolating the hair. Hair can be tricky. The costume is probably easier to isolate from the original picture and add back into the green screen result. Another option should be to use a blue screen when the subject is wearing green (if the software can work with blue backgrounds).

Moving on to your thoughts about shooting on white and dropping in a new background, there are some hard and easy ways to do this. I have the feeling you are doing things the hard way. I don't have time for a tutorial now and will supply some links when I can. For now, a teaser will be to mention stacked layers, blend modes such as multiply or darken and layer masks.

Something else to keep in mind is not to look for perfection in extracting every hair. In fashion/beauty retouching, art directors usually wish to remove distracting wispies. Nobody will be comparing the original vs. the composite (except you) - so don't be too pedantic about capturing every hair. It can sometimes be easier to add wispy hair in as needed!

Regards,

Stephen Marsh

fredjclaus · September 20, 2011

Stephen,

I have not attempted to do a dance studio shot as of yet because of the green issue. I noticed however my daughter's studio pictures are shot on a white background and that's what we get. I was hoping to do the same but be able to remove the white and utilize the 400 different digital backgrounds I have. I really need to practice with the greenscreen more and the white background along with photoshop before I start marketing my services.

Thanks for the teaser, and I look forward to a link later. It seems what I've been told from other tutorial videos was to use the Quick Select tool, refine edges, then burn the hair edges so the white gets darkened. I was thinking that would work fine for brown and black hair, but not sure how well it will work for blonde hair. I can't wait to see what you have in mind.

pathfinder · September 20, 2011

I am still exploring Matt Kloskowski's "Photoshop Compositing Secrets" which I recommend heartily for those folks interested in swapping backgrounds and subjects.

His discussion of the Quick Selection tool and the Refine Edges command is first rate.

One of his suggestions is that when refining the edges of a selection, you can view the selection in the Refine Edges command, either as marching ants, or on a black or white background within the Refine Edge command. How precise your selection needs to be depends to a very large amount on whether it is going on to a white or a dark background. A very worthwhile tip.

Peano · September 20, 2011

fredjclaus wrote: »

What is the best way to remove a white background in photoshop where the person being photographed is blonde and has a lot of hair?

You need contrast between the background and the subject. Blonde hair on a white background usually has very little contrast. For blondes, you need a darker background.

fredjclaus · September 20, 2011

Now that makes more scents Peano. I wonder if I used a green screen and cut out the background in photoshop instead of using the greenscreen program I might get a better result and no removal of the green outfits.

fredjclaus · September 20, 2011

Pathfinder, I just ordered that book from the library. Maybe when money is a bit stronger and I officially own Photoshop I might look into getting it. Thanks for the tip though.

Art Scott · September 21, 2011

If you want to do digital backgrounds make sure to buy a blue screen also or as you mentioned a white or again a black background......for still photography Green and Blue are not really needed and both tend to reflect the colored light back on to the subject.....I have done a few following instructions from a background company called Photobacks and they have tutes included for removing backgrounds...not blue/green screen but everyday backgrounds like your living room and such....I am not fast or real superb at this but I have done a few that the clients actually liked.

BinaryFx · September 21, 2011

fredjclaus wrote: »

Stephen,

Thanks for the teaser, and I look forward to a link later.

A 3mb layered PSD is at this link, it is only available for a short time though:

http://www.yousendit.com/download/bHlDcXlsSWg0b0IzZUE9PQ

(click the download radio button and then the download button)

Basically 3 layers, upper is in normal blend mode with a very very rough layer mask of the subject minus the background. This layer mask is not intended to isolate the hair, it is there to hide the edges of the hair. The middle layer is the same image without layer mask, with layer set to multiply (the image is shot on a near white background). The lower layer is the new background.

I will have to dig around and see if I can find the link to a tutorial that I had in mind.

Regards,

Stephen Marsh

BinaryFx · September 21, 2011

Some more links, similar to the method demonstrated in my PSD file:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=34120631

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=34120549

Also have a look at Russell Browns site, there are many tutorials there that may also be of help:

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Regards,

Stephen Marsh

fredjclaus · September 21, 2011

thanks Art and Stephen. Now to practice.

Removing background with lots of hair

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