Quick Photoshop help please....

Dave450

Dave450

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Dave
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I have taken some family shots ready for xmas, but the background isnt as white as I had hoped. What is the best way in photoshop to make it white without it looking like a cut out?? I dont normally do these sort of photos so my PP skills on it are limited :cuckoo:

Thanks!
 
Without seeing the pic it's a bit of a guess but try the dodge tool set to highlights and a low opacity, that should lighten the white BG and even if you go over darker tones it hopefully won't affect them much.
 
I'll get a photo up within a few mins....
 
Can you post one? To get a white background you need to add quite a bit of light to it. You can make a feathered selection around the subjects go to levels and use the white selector to turn it white and bring a little detail back using the fade tool if you need to...... Hit and miss though

The dodge tool noted above is another good way but it's harder to get the background an even tone - unless it's pure white.
 
Last edited:
Ok - here is one of the many :) - I dont do portraits so it was making the best of what I have got.

1 flash pointed at ceiling, bed sheet as background and duvet as floor. Hoping to be able to get it as white as possible:


test.jpg
 
And this is what I got with the Dodge tool:

test2.jpg
 
I'd maybe crop a little off the right too....
 
EOS_JD said:
I'd maybe crop a little off the right too....
Click to expand...

Yep fully agree :thumbs:

any feedback on the PP work. Its not my strongest walk in life so any pointers would be great.

Thank you for your comments so far.
 
Not bad. I'd try and shoot with a more solid base next time - but for what you have it's fine.
 
Thank you for the replies :thumbs:
 
Nice family photo Dave, if anything I would remove the hair which is passing over your Daughters right eye using the clone tool......ALT +click with the clone tool to sample an area.
Thanks for posting
Dave
 
Create duplicate layer.

In levels click white dropper on dirtiest white area.

Add mask.

Paint over the kids so the original layer shows through but the white area stays white. You do not even need to paint that accurately on this image (although I slightly missed the elbow:D), but more tricky if they had black/dark clothing.

cleanwhite.jpg
 
chip said:
Create duplicate layer.

In levels click white dropper on dirtiest white area.

Add mask.

Paint over the kids so the original layer shows through but the white area stays white. You do not even need to paint that accurately on this image (although I slightly missed the elbow:D), but more tricky if they had black/dark clothing.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the edit and the explanation - just what I was after thank you!

nikonuser said:
Nice family photo Dave, if anything I would remove the hair which is passing over your Daughters right eye using the clone tool......ALT +click with the clone tool to sample an area.
Thanks for posting
Dave
Click to expand...

Cheers :thumbs:
 
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