HELP (how to change Black bground to White)

Hey guys,
i have lots of underwater pics i shoot with my xz1.
Usually i kinda like it with a black background.
But few weeks ago i saw this pro do it with a white background.

My friend manage to talk to him, and he said that he bring a WHITE CARDBOARD UNDERWATER!!

But the fact that he is a pro with assistance and what not, i thought an amateur like me would just have to deal with it through photoshop and what not.

(1) So, i really need help to turn an example like this pic below as u can see a black background to white.

This looks like a basic editing.
I do know u can use photoshop quick selection tool.

(2) But how do i deal with the BLACK FADE as u can see in this example the beak/mouth of the fish.

Any help is appreciated.
Cheers

You won't be able to do so, because you are missing parts of the fish that should show up on a white background. Better shoot a new pic on white, than trying to restore this one.

It's a poor candidate for what you want, but here is a method anyway.

1. Copy image to a new layer.

2. Use Select/Color Range and select the black. Start with the Fuzziness slider at zero and use the + eyedropper to make multiple selections until it looks like you have all the black background. Then raise the Fuzziness slider slowly untill it looks OK to you. Click OK.

3. Add that selection as a mask on your layer copy.

4. Target the image (not the mask) and Invert (Control-I). All the black will turn white. Well, most of it anyway, including some inside the fish.

5. Use your paint brush to clean up the mask.

Depending on how you set the Fuzziness, and how you clean the mask, the original black fade will become a white/gray fade.

GIMP G'MIC's replace color (replaced with transparancy and base layer was white fill) comes close, but you still have a dropshadow effect which will require some additional tlc to remove.



Image hosted free thanks to ImageShack ( http://www.imageshack.us ).

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Psalm 109:8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20109:8&version=KJV

Hope you don't mind a little play with your fish as well.



Image hosted free thanks to ImageShack ( http://www.imageshack.us ).

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Psalm 109:8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20109:8&version=KJV

I thought invert might work, but I got poor results.





Steven E Mozdzen

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Sam

Previous profile: http://www.dpreview.com/members/?User=hjizididheid

Used your JPG in ACR to get the detail of the front and back of the fish, selected with the pen tool IN CS, used the clone tool to replace anything that was too dark, used curves for lighting and contrast and placed on the white BG.





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Cheers.

Gary
http://forums.dpreview.com/Galleries/8298604696/photos
http://www.pbase.com/pictek

I joined a health club last year, spent about 250 bucks. Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there!

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Psalm 109:8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20109:8&version=KJV

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Cheers.

Gary
http://forums.dpreview.com/Galleries/8298604696/photos
http://www.pbase.com/pictek

I joined a health club last year, spent about 250 bucks. Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there!

thanx for the edited shots guys!
Very nice indeed.
I have to say the one BABINE edited is the one im looking for.
Although the black fade im sure is very hard to change.

What do u guys think?