Challenge for the PS gurus. - DPChallenge Forums

05/24/2006 02:30:02 PM · #1

I have a difficult challenge for you photoshop gurus out there.

I often have to separate people from backgrounds. In studio shots using a white background it is not so difficult and I can usually get retain every single strand of hair. But when it comes to separating someone from a busy background I start getting problems getting it done cleanly. I usually end up losing a lot of detail and hair.

If I can get any tips on how to do it cleanly I would be very grateful. And so that you can show me how you do it I have a challenge for you. I have uploaded an unprocessed hi-res image to my pbase page. The challenge is to separate the girl from the busy background, retaining every single strand of hair and placing her onto a background, which I have also supplied, to present your result. This is a difficult task because she is also spinning an umbrella bringing in a motion blur at the same time.

Hi res photos are here: girl and background

If you can do it finely and cleanly, please show me your result and exactly how you did it. Thanks!

Here the low res shot with links to the larger images.

Message edited by author 2006-05-24 14:54:10.

sammigurl

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

05/24/2006 02:34:03 PM · #2

I'm not sure if I could do THAT without painting some of it again, but I recommend using the pen tool for your first pass through, just to retain the shape. Then, take the detail seperately using various other methods and put the image together.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/24/2006 02:35:36 PM · #3

1. For you, I'd suggest investigating one of the 3rd-party plugins designed for this purpose.

2. One technique to try is to make a selection based on just one of the color channels where you have the most contrast between subject and BG

3. I usually end up painting on a mask layer using a tablet -- by zooming in you can get the mask as accurate as you want.

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/24/2006 02:37:22 PM · #4

I win.

sammigurl

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

05/24/2006 02:37:56 PM · #5

Originally posted by mk:

I win.

LOL Now that's a half-assed job if I've ever seen one.

kenskid

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/24/2006 02:39:35 PM · #6

I would:

Create a mask layer
Mask out girl including hair
Copy the layer with the "girl only"
Paste in to a new document in PS.
Clean with eraser tool any background that came over connected to strands of hair.

How would I get all the hair?

I would zoooooom in an mask it strand by strand with the thinest hardest brush PS has.

I

Originally posted by kiwiness:

05/24/2006 02:39:54 PM · #7

Using any third party filters that I know of won't retain single strands of hair, and I have tried many.

My workflow for solid background shots is to duplicate the channel with the most contrast between hair and background and then use the apply image function. Then I use the black paint brush and burn tool to blacken and the dodge tool to increase the highlights to get my selection. But that is not so easy with a busy background. I need some profi tips!!!!

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/24/2006 02:40:31 PM · #8

Originally posted by mk:

I win.

:)))))))))

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

05/24/2006 02:43:20 PM · #9

it can be done but u need the really high res file or original, will take a bit of time to do but like I said it can be done the part that will be the most trouble is her hair and the umbrella just where you can see through it.

I have done this before on other images and it did take some time to do, u still may not get it perfect.

lol nice job mk

Message edited by author 2006-05-24 14:43:59.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/24/2006 02:43:29 PM · #10

Originally posted by kiwiness:

Using any third party filters that I know of won't retain single strands of hair, and I have tried many.

Oh, I remember seeing ads which claimed they could, but never tried any myself.

05/24/2006 02:46:02 PM · #11

Originally posted by kenskid:

Believe me tried that one out years ago and gave it up. It is the finest of hairs which I want to retain and you can't do it with that method. Thanks though :)

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/24/2006 02:47:00 PM · #12

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by kiwiness:
Using any third party filters that I know of won't retain single strands of hair, and I have tried many.

Oh, I remember seeing ads which claimed they could, but never tried any myself.

Give me names!!!! :)

soup

Canon EOS-30D

05/24/2006 02:49:33 PM · #13

should have used a bald model... ;}

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

05/24/2006 02:55:44 PM · #14

Originally posted by digitalpins:

it can be done but u need the really high res file or original

I know it can be done, that is why I posted this so that someone can show me.

I now uploaded a 300dpi hi res shot. Might make things easier. Come on someone......

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

05/24/2006 02:57:55 PM · #15

I saved 'em, shouldn't be too much of a problem....
;)

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/24/2006 03:09:57 PM · #16

ok I am looking at your 300 dpi image now see if I can do anything also check out this link

//www.sitepoint.com/print/masking-techniques-photoshop

a nice simple way to know out backgrounds if you have photoshop the magic erase tool is great sometimes but sometimes you just have to adjust the settings

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

05/24/2006 03:16:35 PM · #17

I'd use the extraction tool for this. Since it never comes out perfect (at least for me) I use a duplicate layer with all the pixels of the girl photo and mask that out completely and then paint some of it back in using a soft/low opacity brush to smooth out the rough transitions the extraction leaves. Here's what I did in 10 minutes abeit it needs more work painting some of the detail back in:

Message edited by author 2006-05-25 00:49:38.

DjFenzl

05/24/2006 03:16:54 PM · #18

well it's not free but this would be an ideal job for Fluid mask

That's a link to the gallery - amazing stuff.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/24/2006 03:24:24 PM · #19

Originally posted by kiwiness:

Originally posted by digitalpins:
it can be done but u need the really high res file or original

I know it can be done, that is why I posted this so that someone can show me.

I now uploaded a 300dpi hi res shot. Might make things easier. Come on someone......

I throw my hands up in the air! I just wasted like 30 minutes on the lo-res version. I ain't going back to it, no way.

Here's what I tend to do: I create a whole duplicate layer and play with levels and hue sat to "purify" as much of the troublesome BG as possible; in this case making that luminous green more even-toned. Then I select by color, toss the altered layer (after saving the selection of course) and then I stack my layers in the way that suits me (you may do it differently, doesn't matter, and I load the selection up, make it a mask, and work on from there with brushes to clean up the mask.

Looking at latest post from Yanko, that's pretty much where I expect to end up if I pursue it also. His "paint back" workflow's what I do too.

R.

05/24/2006 03:41:13 PM · #20

Not a bad result Yanko, looks good. If I needed a very large print would I see the fine hair strands without aura still?

Bear I have to try out your idea, thanks.

And thanks for the links to the 3rd party software, I will check it out.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

05/24/2006 04:44:25 PM · #21

Originally posted by kiwiness:

I have an errand to run but when I get back I'll send you the full version of what I have. I believe I started out with your hi-res version.

David.C

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/24/2006 04:48:09 PM · #22

Originally posted by kiwiness:

Not a bad result Yanko, looks good. If I needed a very large print would I see the fine hair strands without aura still? ...

Selecting out the girl is beyond me, but once selected the halos should be controllable with selective color and hue/sat applied only to the highlights (probably with a mask to protect the rest of the girl). This would be along the same lines as using light and dark USM layers to control haloing.

David

Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS

05/24/2006 07:20:14 PM · #23

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by kiwiness:
Not a bad result Yanko, looks good. If I needed a very large print would I see the fine hair strands without aura still?

Bear I have to try out your idea, thanks.

And thanks for the links to the 3rd party software, I will check it out.

I have an errand to run but when I get back I'll send you the full version of what I have. I believe I started out with your hi-res version.

Thanks Richard, looking forward to seeing it!

Anyone else out there want to show me some tricks?

buzzrock

Fujifilm X-M1

05/24/2006 07:33:58 PM · #24

I tried and it sucked--
I found the side of the umbrella aggrevating.
Hey Gary-- Im sending you pm regarding something though--

yanko