advice on removing or improving the background

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Iiyama

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Hi folks
My stepdaughters in the photograph have asked me if I can improve the photo. Then arrange for it to be printed to a decent size (I guess 10 x 8 ish) to give to their mum for her birthday.

I have practiced blurring backgrounds in single portraits post-shoot with Photo shop elements with some small success. But I cannot get this one to blur satisfactorily. I tried removing the background to no avail.

I also wanted to improve the colour and remove some skin blemishes.

A tall order yeah? I'm aware that I should have composed it better and thought of the DoF before I took it. But it was a family affair with lots of wine and I decided to take this photograph without any thought and a lot of wine :)

If nobody can tweak this I will just have to replan or re shoot. The other reason they want this photograph is that the night was special to them.

Thanks for looking.

DSC_0058.jpg
 
101528922.jpg


In PSE, create a new layer - select the copied layer - filter, blur, gaussion blur (not too much 5 -8?). Select the eraser and rub out the figures being careful not to rub out too much of the background so use a small brush and look at the original layer often. Use small strokes and release the mouse button betwen each. When you screw up, undo and save often in generations.

Hopefully what you wanted, be far more careful than I was and you'll be fine.

Chris
 
Tulipone said:
101528922.jpg


In PSE, create a new layer - select the copied layer - filter, blur, gaussion blur (not too much 5 -8?). Select the eraser and rub out the figures being careful not to rub out too much of the background so use a small brush and look at the original layer often. Use small strokes and release the mouse button betwen each. When you screw up, undo and save often in generations.

Hopefully what you wanted, be far more careful than I was and you'll be fine.

Chris
Click to expand...

I'm extremely grateful not only for the end result but the explanation. I will practice that one.

Cheers
 
Pleased to be of some help - looking again, I think that I'd also try and clone out some of that white pillar as well!

Chris
 
It might be worth the time spent to keep the ribbon unblurred.. the Girl is obviously holding it and it makes her hand position look a little strange when it's merged into the background blur :)

Oh and tell her she's not going anywhere dressed like that! :lol:
 
leon1p said:
It might be worth the time spent to keep the ribbon unblurred.. the Girl is obviously holding it and it makes her hand position look a little strange when it's merged into the background blur :)

Oh and tell her she's not going anywhere dressed like that! :lol:
Click to expand...

....I never even saw the ribbon - I used a huge brush and about 15 seconds. The OP needs to spend some time to get it right.

Chris
 
leon1p said:
Oh and tell her she's not going anywhere dressed like that! :lol:
Click to expand...


Lol I tried;)

Im having problems getting the photograph adjusted. :( I cannot seem to get it right. Im to new to this post processing and on a schedule of a week :( Bit of a perfectionist and its frustrating lol.

Great advice folks, appreciate it all.
 
Unfortunately I am away at the moment but would offer to give more of a hand. If you intend to do very much post processing, you'll find a Wacom type graphics tablet makes life far easier but it is possible with a mouse, just slow and steady.

Which bit are you stuck on? Remember to blow up areas of detail and use a real small brush on very detailed bits.
 
Thanks for the thought. It seems to be a lack of knowledge, as this photoshop stuff is so new. I just keep screwing it up and have little patience when I start to screw it up. (Not helped by stepdaughters ringing up saying is it done yet lol!)
 
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