How to darken the background keeping the subject untouched?

[RayG123]

Hello Friends,

Past weekend I was shooting few models with graffiti on the wall. I am attaching two pictures one with darker wall but also darken skin tone of the model and other is lighter skin tone with lighter wall. I would like the picture to be lighter skin tone with darker wall color. Could someone please help me how to achieve it?

I have PS and LR.

Thanks in Advance,
Ray

Lighter Skin with Lighter Wall





Darker Skin with Darker Wall

 

[graybalanced]

This is fundamental LR/PS so once you learn how to do it, you can solve all kinds of problems.

In LR you can set the overall tone and color using the usual Develop controls, then use an Adjustment Brush to lighten just the areas you want lightened (the subject).

In PS you can stack both versions in one file as two layers, with the lighter one on top. Add a mask to the top layer, and paint white in the top layer mask to reveal the lighter areas.

The specifics are not so important as the basic ideas that in LR you use an Adjustment Brush to make local adjustments, and in PS you use layers and masks for teh same thing.

If you need more details about LR Adjustment Brushes and PS Masks, there are a large number of tutorials on the web, including videos on YouTube.

 

[joe filer]

My idea may be too basic, but I think it works pretty well.
Pick the image of the model that you prefer. (the Lighter one)

Duplicate the layer, change the blending mode (experiment with overlay, multiply) to create a darker background. Add a layer mask and reveal the lighter model from the background layer.
To lessen the effect, reduce the opacity of the duplicate layer.

To increase the effect, duplicate the duplicate layer a second time (including the layer mask)

After the masking is done, you can also make other adjustments to the darker background: color shift, blurring, etc.

--
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[RayG123]

Thank You so much for the quick responses. I actually use LR to adjust exposure includes WB, Recovery, Fill Light, medium dark level etc and PS mainly to crop the image as per y likings (composing etc). I do use some time heal tool but that's it in post processing for me.

could someone please help me with details on how to ?

Thanks Again,
Ray

 

[Ronny Harris]

In Photoshop CS5, select the girl using the Quick Selection tool. With the marching ants active, create a Curves adjustment layer. Change the layer mode to Multiply. Decrease the opacity to 50%. Use Refine mask and brush to touch up the mask. Jump (Ctrl+J) the Curves layer to a new layer, change the mode to Screen, invert the mask (Ctrl+I) and decrease the opacity to 40%. You can then adjust both Curves layers to taste. Nice photo, BTW.



Ronny

 

[pellepiano]

I extracted the model and added some extra shallow depth of field, and also darkened the background. Software like lens Effects, Bokeh and Focal Point can do wonders at times.



--
-Pelle Piano
Blog at http://www.talesofthepixel.blogspot.com/
Gallery at http://www.studiobild.com



http://www.talesofthepixel.blogspot.com/

 

[RayG123]

Thank You! for replying and explaining the steps. I have to try and learn more PP and I think this will be a good start.

Will try PP later today (right now at work)

-- Ray

 

[joe filer]

There are any number of methods to darken the background. Here is a combination of two:
Each can be used alone, or combined to enhance the effects.

One new layer is a duplicate of the original background image with the blending mode changed to darken the entire image. Add a layer mask (by selection of model or painting with a brush) to reveal the original lightness of the model.

The second new layer contains a transparent-to-black gradient set to soft light blending mode. (The "background copy" layer mask was duplicated for this layer.) This gradient layer makes the darkness increase with background distance.
Scroll through the blending modes of each layer for the most desired effect.



--
My 2¢ worth
Joe Filer
Mahomet, IL
http://www.pbase.com/filer
My latest hobby: http://www.pbase.com/filer/longarmquilting

My 60 year still camera history: http://www.pbase.com/filer/image/49099880/original

My wife is proud to participate in the Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative!
http://www.alzquilts.org/

She has met her first $1000 promise for Alzheimer's research and is working on her second $1000. Cheer her on at: http://www.amisimms.com/1000promise.html

 

[JJMacks]

I don't use LR I only Have PS. Photoshop is all about Layers, Masking and Filters. I lot of users have a hard time understanding this to begin with. When ever you think about an area you should think Selection/Mask there one and the same. Also think Layer. A layer is just an overlay. When you want to adjust something thing Adjustment and filters. If you make a layer a smart object filters used on it become smart filters which you can readjust. Putting it all together takes some learning knowledge. But it really not the difficult. Here is your image all three versions are actually the same image. Only the Adjustment layer and smart filters have different settings. The first image the levels adjustment layer has no setting so it makes no change. Also the smart blur filters has no setting makes no change. The Mask on the smart object select the background only so the girl in the background layer shows through the overlaying smart object layer. The second middle image has an adjustment made to the levels adjustment layer to darken the image. The third right image has and adjustment made to the levels adjustment layer and the smart blur filter. You can make a countless number of version of the image just using those two adjustment and the layer mask selection. The smart Filter mask is all white so it effect nothing.



--
JJMack

 

[drh681]

there are basic tools to do the job in Photoshop and ACR:





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