Darken a black background in PS

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N33712

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Name
Matt
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi

Can anyone offer any advice please?

I hacve taken a photo (RAW & JPG) with my Canon 550D of my wife and son facing each other. You can only see the faces.
I have used a black sheet for the background. The image is great but the background is in some areas a dark grey. I would like it to be black.

How can i adjust the backgrounds darkness without affecting the faces in photoshop?

Am guessing some sort of.... add layer, then adjustment but i just cant seem to get it how i want it!

If anyone can help i would be very grateful.

I am currently using Photoshop CS5.

Many thanks

Matt
 
Hi

Cheers for that. I have created a new layer and set the black level to where i want the background to be. Now i need to use masks to bring back some brightness to the faces.......just wish i knew how? Could you explain at all. Thanks
 
You dont need an adjustment layer you can just create a mask on that layer.
Select layer, create a mask (circle icon with a plus under the masks tab), use color range to select black background and adjust fuzzyness until you are happy (you can paint by hand with the brush tool too if needs be), convert to selection, set black level.

That should leave the faces exactly as they are.
 
Can you post the pic, Matt? May give a better idea of what you're after. There is nearly always more than one way of achieving the result you want in Photoshop.
 
Not got that photo with me now but have another very similar i could post.

Umm whats the easiest way to upload a photo? Take it i need to use a 3rd party site....which is best?

Cheers
 
An alternative technique would be to duplicate the background layer. On the duplicate adjust the exposure or curves to give you the desired density of the background you want. Then create a layer mask, and simply brush away the areas that are not within the background.

A quick search of the web should turn up some simple tutorials

here's one to start with

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA8TgyTruV8
 
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