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Best way to add a gradient to this picture?
- Thread starter Addison
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Hoogle
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Ok make an exposure adlustment layer and blow out the picture so your white background is completely white and make sure invert the layer mask so it is all black and showing using a soft brush paint in white around the background so you have a white background and merge it down to your image of cinderella.
double click the padlock to unlock that layer and turn of the visibility, create a new layer underneath it. and set up your gradient I did mine from top left to bottom right I dont know why but hey ho.
Ok now select your cinderella and reveal it again by turning the visibility back on and duplicate it.
turn of the visibility of the duplicate.
right click the cinderella layer that is not hidden and select blending options in the first window you will see a blend if option, move the top slider to the left and you will see your pink layer coming through, you will also find her face will start to dissappear as well but dont worry that is what the duplicate layer is for.
Once the white has gone press ok turn on your duplicate cinderella layer and apply a layer mask press control +I to invert it select a white soft brush and paint in over the face and the hair that got clipped including that flower in it its oke if you go over the hair to an extent so you get a halo around her this will look better when you choose a slightly larger brush with a very soft edge and paint in black to hide it again but do it on the background section with about 50% opacity this will gradually remove the white halo and cause a soft blend around her hair so it looks natural.
This only took 2 mins but it sounds more complicated than it really is, Just spend a bit more time fading your masks in more than I did.
double click the padlock to unlock that layer and turn of the visibility, create a new layer underneath it. and set up your gradient I did mine from top left to bottom right I dont know why but hey ho.
Ok now select your cinderella and reveal it again by turning the visibility back on and duplicate it.
turn of the visibility of the duplicate.
right click the cinderella layer that is not hidden and select blending options in the first window you will see a blend if option, move the top slider to the left and you will see your pink layer coming through, you will also find her face will start to dissappear as well but dont worry that is what the duplicate layer is for.
Once the white has gone press ok turn on your duplicate cinderella layer and apply a layer mask press control +I to invert it select a white soft brush and paint in over the face and the hair that got clipped including that flower in it its oke if you go over the hair to an extent so you get a halo around her this will look better when you choose a slightly larger brush with a very soft edge and paint in black to hide it again but do it on the background section with about 50% opacity this will gradually remove the white halo and cause a soft blend around her hair so it looks natural.
This only took 2 mins but it sounds more complicated than it really is, Just spend a bit more time fading your masks in more than I did.
ibclare
Queen Bee
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I tried a different approach. Used the quick select on the background. I wasn't too careful on the part that is all white since I intended to put the white of the gradient there. But I don't know your intent.
With the quick select tool, select the background. Zoom in and tighten up the edges, then go into the hair and select some of the BG there. Add a layer mask and invert it. Make a layer below and add your gradient. Then grab a 0 hardness round brush and at fairly low opacity, paint back and forth to bring out the hair or the background.
Like Paul said, it takes a bit of patience. You won't make it perfect. The only really good way is to have the gradient there first. Guess you know that.
With the quick select tool, select the background. Zoom in and tighten up the edges, then go into the hair and select some of the BG there. Add a layer mask and invert it. Make a layer below and add your gradient. Then grab a 0 hardness round brush and at fairly low opacity, paint back and forth to bring out the hair or the background.
Like Paul said, it takes a bit of patience. You won't make it perfect. The only really good way is to have the gradient there first. Guess you know that.
Hoogle
Guru
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That is the great thing about photoshop there are many ways to do the same thing But sometimes if you want accuracy you have to do things differently. quick and Crude fix the way Clare described is fine ( and you know I dont mean offence by this clare lol)
But there is no way you can mask a good selection of the hair like that if you look at the right side you have the original white background around the hair.
My way eliminates that problem and creates a smoother blend
But there is no way you can mask a good selection of the hair like that if you look at the right side you have the original white background around the hair.
My way eliminates that problem and creates a smoother blend
Hoogle
Guru
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Thats what I thought you were implying lol hence I think it is important to learn masking but even if you use channels and calculations masking blond hair against white background is really not the easiest method blend if would be. Even now Masking hair manually will take me a long time and I would like to say I am a confident PS user and the truth is I have tried several times manually painting masks
Channels masking
Calculations masking
refine edge
colour select and none of them work as well unless it is against contrasting backgrounds.
I wish you luck and I am sure you will pick up many things here and you are in the right place to learn and build on what you already know. We have many talented PS users willing to help you out.
Channels masking
Calculations masking
refine edge
colour select and none of them work as well unless it is against contrasting backgrounds.
I wish you luck and I am sure you will pick up many things here and you are in the right place to learn and build on what you already know. We have many talented PS users willing to help you out.