Digital Backdrops: Quick Guide To Using Backdrops
Digital Backdrops: Quick Guide To Using Backdrops
)ection ,
Com&ining +.otos and Backdrops in ' !()* )#!+)
Using c.roma key 0it. digital &ackdrops1
Chroma key is the use of a solid color background when photographing a sub,ect. This makes it easier to extract the sub,ect from the background. 3sually blue or green is used" but any solid color will work as long as the sub,ect isn4t the same color as the background. The background can be a plain wall" a sheet or any solid color item larger than the sub,ect. The background must also contrast from the sub,ect. #f your sub,ect is wearing black while using a black background" it will be significantly harder to extract the sub,ect from the photo. A hair light should be used as it will eliminate shadows from the background. A hair light is simply a light placed between the sub,ect and the background. 5enerally" it4s aimed at the background from floor level to add depth to portraits. 6or our purposes" it provides better contrast. )#!+ ,-!2tract t.e su&3ect 4rom your picture 4ile 0pen your sub,ect picture file 56ile7$pen7your4ile1ti489. 3sing the -agic Wand Tool, left-click on the background of your sub,ect. The entire background should be selected &Troubleshooting 7)1 #nverse the selected background 5)elect7Inverse9 so that now your sub,ect is highlighted. Copy the selection 5!dit7Copy91 #ip: -ake sure the anti-aliased box is checked. #ip: Create a duplicate layer of the image 5%ayer7Duplicate %ayer9. #t serves as a comparison for the extracted image with the original. #t can also be helpful if corrections are needed. !ou can also drag the 8ackground 9ayer to the :ew 9ayer icon in the 9ayers Palette.
8.tif is an example. !our file may be a .,pg " a .psd file." or any number of files supported by your image manipulating program.
)#!+ /-$pen t.e &ackdrop 4ile 0pen desired backdrop file from the C 56ile7$pen7!:Clouds1ti489&Troubleshooting %).
;$.Clouds.tif is an example. !our drive letter and file name may be different.
)#!+ '-+lace your su&3ect onto t.e &ackdrop Paste your copied sub,ect file onto the backdrop 5!dit7+aste9&Troubleshooting <)1
)ection /
#ip C- Blending t.e su&3ect 0it. t.e Backdrop 1arely does the sub,ect look natural after pasting it on the backdrop. 3se the !raser #ool around the edges of the sub,ect to get rid of any remaining pixels from the original background. After that" use the Blur #ool to blend the edges of the sub,ect to the background.
)ection '
#rou&les.ooting ,1D )election is not as desired1
Ad,ust the tolerance of the Magic Wand starting with a setting of *7+. #f your selection still isn4t right" ad,ust the tolerance setting in steps of *7(+ until desired selection is achieved. #f this does not produce the desired selection area" use your Lasso Tool and carefully trace around the edges of your sub,ect. #f you have a newer version of Photoshop" you can choose from a Magnetic Lasso Tool or the $xtract function in your 6ilters.