Photo shoot background help please

[marc2004]

Hello!
We've had some pictures taken of our little errr 'angel' and I have had a go at making the background white using the dodge tool but without great success. Would someone be kind enough to show me how it should be done without the image looking over exposed please. I'm trying to teach myself CS4 but failing!

I can also email the picture to anyone if that helps

Thanks
Marc

 

[OlyPaul]

Hi Marc, hope you do not mind me saying but one of the problems is that the image is under exposed.

So the first thing to do is hit Ctrl + L to open the levels dialogue and move the right hand slider to the left until the exposure on the child is correct.

This in itself might be satisfactory but if not you can then use the dodge tool if you want, but this in my opinion is a better way.

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brighness & Contrast > OK then adjust the contrast and brightness sliders till you get the background how you want, do not worry about the child being to bright.

Next select the paint brush and black and paint the child back to its original brightness, if you make a mistake change to white paint to reverse the effect.

I used Elements but the instructions apply to CS as well.

 

[marc2004]

Thanks Paul

I WILL get the hang of this photoshop!!!!!!!! It seems so easy to do things once you know how....I'll get it eventually