Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Started Dec 8, 2010 | Discussions
JDMONAHAN Junior Member • Posts: 43
Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Hi

I have limited Lightroom experience and have tried using the adjustment brush with little success to remove the shadows in the attached picture.

I'm not so concerned with the shadows below the waist. But, really need to clean up the shadows around the heads.

Any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks,
James

 JDMONAHAN's gear list:JDMONAHAN's gear list
Nikon D90 Nikon D7000 Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D +3 more
Hugowolf Forum Pro • Posts: 12,676
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

JDMONAHAN wrote:

Hi

I have limited Lightroom experience and have tried using the adjustment brush with little success to remove the shadows in the attached picture.

I'm not so concerned with the shadows below the waist. But, really need to clean up the shadows around the heads.

I don’t know of anyway of doing this in LR. I would open it in Photoshop where the selection tools are more elaborate.

Brain A

Tom C Veteran Member • Posts: 5,488
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

This was a quick one but I just masked out the shadow and painted the wall on a new layer.

-- hide signature --

Tom
When my bones turn to dust,
and if my CD's didn't rust,
future generations will see my photos
and think that I was nuts.

danielleruff New Member • Posts: 1
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Hello!

I have been wondering how to do this as well, and I see that there was a solution to removing the shadow from your photo. Could you share how you were able to do this in Lightroom?

Thank you

foresaa
foresaa Senior Member • Posts: 1,798
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

One way is to use Photoshop & remove the whole background

JDMONAHAN wrote:

Hi

I have limited Lightroom experience and have tried using the adjustment brush with little success to remove the shadows in the attached picture.

I'm not so concerned with the shadows below the waist. But, really need to clean up the shadows around the heads.

Any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks,
James

-- hide signature --

Andy
Grey haired & Scottish
..and proud of both!
http://andelimages.com

Conrad Birdie Veteran Member • Posts: 6,809
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Not sure it is best to REMOVE the shadows completely, (unless you are replacing the background that is) I think it is usually best to reduce the harshness of them. I do that by selecting each area with a selection tool. I use the pen tool, and then fill those selections with the proper background color, and then simply reduce the opacity of that layer to say 50%. Here is the before and after effects.

Original:

Retouched:

danielleruff wrote:

Hello!

I have been wondering how to do this as well, and I see that there was a solution to removing the shadow from your photo. Could you share how you were able to do this in Lightroom?

Thank you

-- hide signature --

Conrad Birdie
"Aspire to Inspire before you Expire"

 Conrad Birdie's gear list:Conrad Birdie's gear list
Nikon Coolpix P510 Olympus E-510
JulesJ
JulesJ Forum Pro • Posts: 45,680
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

In LR?
Jules

Tom C wrote:

This was a quick one but I just masked out the shadow and painted the wall on a new layer.

-- hide signature --

Julesarnia on twitter

Jim B (MSP) Forum Pro • Posts: 12,279
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom? - v tough

I gave it a "quick try" using LR 3 and its adjustment brush. I could not produce anything that I liked and would show here.
It's pretty quick in PS Elements, or PS, as those earlier responses showed.

Jim

 Jim B (MSP)'s gear list:Jim B (MSP)'s gear list
Canon EOS 90D
Tom C Veteran Member • Posts: 5,488
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Sorry, that was done in Photoshop. I don't think you can get the same results in LR, if I can I will post the results.
--
Tom
When my bones turn to dust,
and if my CD's didn't rust,
future generations will see my photos
and think that I was nuts.

MarkNicholas Senior Member • Posts: 1,524
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

Lightroom was not made for extensive local editing. You can play around with the brush but I doubt you will get anything close to photoshop.

 MarkNicholas's gear list:MarkNicholas's gear list
Kodak DC4800 Nikon Coolpix 5700 Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II +4 more
OP JDMONAHAN Junior Member • Posts: 43
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

I already gave the set of pics to the family for this event. But, wish i had this edited version at the time. I definitely need more practice in LR and PS.

Thanks!
James

 JDMONAHAN's gear list:JDMONAHAN's gear list
Nikon D90 Nikon D7000 Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D +3 more
Tom C Veteran Member • Posts: 5,488
Re: Remove background shadows using Lightroom?

You could give them one of the new ones.

-- hide signature --

Tom
When my bones turn to dust,
and if my CD's didn't rust,
future generations will see my photos
and think that I was nuts.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads