Replacing back ground properly

[sean1098]

I think that patience is my main problem, but i have tried several different ways to chage a background from a portrait sess that i did for a friend.

Have tried adjustment layers then masked back the people, ok but not perfect. played with opacity while doing this and hardness of the brush.

Tried all the erazer tools, selection tolls, well nearly everything, and am still not happy with result.
As i mentioned before it could be just my lack of patience..does a procedure like this take long to do it properly, as im taking about 15 mins with no luck.

Thanks in advance for my ignorance,

Sean.

 

[Pulsar]

As i mentioned before it could be just my lack of patience..does a procedure like this take long to do it properly, as im taking about 15 mins with no luck.

It should not take 15 min, unless the

1. photo is rather small
2. quality of the camera was poor (for example cell phone cameras)
3. there is heavy compression
4. texture and/or color of the main object is similar to the background
5. user has insuffient knowledge of the many different extraction techniques available.

Without any example I can't make any suggestions.

 

[sean1098]

It should not take 15 min, unless the

1. photo is rather small
2. quality of the camera was poor (for example cell phone cameras)
3. there is heavy compression
4. texture and/or color of the main object is similar to the background
5. user has insuffient knowledge of the many different extraction techniques available.

Without any example I can't make any suggestions.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post pulsar.

I can show you the pic. It was taken with d300 in raw formatt so the pic is fine. i would say my technique is just c**p.

Here is pic



I would be obliged if you would show me technique

many thanks,

Sean.

 

[subZero]

Have you tried using the QuickMask tool to make a selection? I think that would be the easiest way. That is, if you're trying to what I think you are trying to do? Putting the portraits on a different background? (changing the background?)

I would use Quick mask here by painting over the family members, then make the selection by escaping Quickmask (might need to inverse selection) then copy and paste onto a different bakground.

Is this what you mean?

Scott

 

[sean1098]

Have you tried using the QuickMask tool to make a selection? I think that would be the easiest way. That is, if you're trying to what I think you are trying to do? Putting the portraits on a different background? (changing the background?)

I would use Quick mask here by painting over the family members, then make the selection by escaping Quickmask (might need to inverse selection) then copy and paste onto a different bakground.

Is this what you mean?

Scott

Have tried this way, and to me it still does not look real. will you tell me what you think. and is there a way of fine tuning this workflow.



Thanks,

Sean.

 

[aram535]

Have tried this way, and to me it still does not look real. will you tell me what you think. and is there a way of fine tuning this workflow.

Thanks,

Sean.

Hi Sean, you're about 90% there, a little fine tuning around the hair is all you need to get it to 100%. If you're a member of lynda.com there is a Photoshop Masks and Channels tutorial that is excellent. I just watched some of it and it goes through the process fairly slowly with a lot of examples.

Aram

P.S. for full disclosure I personally have no connection to lynda.com

 

[TMagness]

Dropping Background

Dry using your channels to refine the mask edges around hair.