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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Changing b/g in Photoshop
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Showing posts 1 - 14 of 14, (reverse)
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 12/27/2012 02:04:44 AM · #1
Is there a legal way in advanced editing to change a white b/g to another color?
 12/27/2012 03:41:12 AM · #2
i guess only by changing the overall image in some way to isolate the colour you want and then change the saturation... like you would with black and white and anything red as in the pleasantville type of procedure but in reverse ;O)

Message edited by author 2012-12-27 03:43:44.
 12/27/2012 03:49:28 AM · #3
Originally posted by Advanced Ruleset:

You May:
...
saturate, desaturate or change the colors of your entry or any existing object within it.


You should be fine. Ensure you aren't changing any gradients/existing areas.

ETA: If you're asking specifically how to do it, you'll have to do whatever your favorite way of selecting only your background is and then change it from there- pretty straight forward, but can sometimes take a good bit of work. I like Topaz ReMask for this sort of thing, myself, but there are a ton of ways to do it. If you shoot it on the right color background, it's possible to simply use a color select (meaning, you make your bg whatever color isn't in your photo at all). Basically you think like you're chroma keying, except when you swap you aren't just cutting it, you're swapping the color and keeping the tonality and details intact.

Message edited by author 2012-12-27 03:59:20.
 12/27/2012 09:14:10 AM · #4
white will be tough, i would apply a warming, cooling, tinted filter and then mask the image so that it doesn't affect the foreground.

i would think it would be legal so long as it wasn't too extreme.

you could even apply a circular gradient mask where you pulled the levels to give the illusion of depth
 12/27/2012 02:02:26 PM · #5
Originally posted by smardaz:
Is there a legal way in advanced editing to change a white b/g to another color?

Use some combination of the "Magic Wand" tool and the "Select > Similar" menu item to select your background. Try to set the tool tolerances so that it selects only the area you want.

Once you have the selection you can save it first (creates a new channel), or just open up a new Adjustment Layer (e.g. Curves, Hue/Sat) (it will use/save the selection as a Layer Mask) and move settings around until you get the color you want. NOTE: You should probably feather the selection by a few pixels before making any adjustments. You can also fine-tune the mask with any painting tools in the alpha channel or layer mask (depending on how you saved the selection). If you save it as an alpha channel, load the selection before creating the Adjustment Layer so it will use the selection as a mask.

While you can change the BG color, make sure your action doesn't create any new shapes or features not previously present.
 12/27/2012 02:06:36 PM · #6
Originally posted by GeneralE:


While you can change the BG color, make sure your action doesn't create any new shapes or features not previously present.


so i guess my gradient mask idea falls into this category?
 12/27/2012 02:12:46 PM · #7
Originally posted by mike_311:
Originally posted by GeneralE:


While you can change the BG color, make sure your action doesn't create any new shapes or features not previously present.


so i guess my gradient mask idea falls into this category?

Creating a gradient BG to replace a completely flat one would be illegal in Advanced, legal under Expert or for non-DPC use.

If there's an existing gradient (e.g. a nearly-flat light blue sky) you should be able use tools (e.g. Curves through a mask) to enhance what's already there.

You can test for the presence of gradient tones by using a Curves Adjustment Layer and moving both endpoints towards the middle so the graph is very steep.

ETA: Like this ... Curve applied to RGB channels of right half of slight gradient (created with the Gradient Blend tool)



Message edited by author 2012-12-27 14:36:42.
 12/27/2012 02:15:53 PM · #8
thanks.
 12/27/2012 03:51:19 PM · #9
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Creating a gradient BG to replace a completely flat one would be illegal in Advanced, legal under Expert or for non-DPC use.


WTF?? A gradient is not a shape or identifiable object. Assuming I have a completely flat white sky (blown) and I select it, then adjust colors so that it's a light blue, we all agree I'm OK. Now you're telling me that if I apply a gradient while doing so, I'm outside the rules? Well then, how about if I adjust the flat white BG to a flat blue BG, *then* apply a gradient to the whole scene? Both are legal in Advanced. Would you still call the result illegal?
The *only* thing that is supposed to be illegal in Advanced is creating new shapes. Period. I can't draw a smiley face, can't create star-like features around point light sources, can't create motion blur where there was none. There is *nothing* that tells me I cannot apply a gradient-masked exposure (or other) adjustment to my image. The application of this rule has gotten *way* out of hand.
 12/27/2012 04:38:00 PM · #10
I'm taking the conservative approach that a gradient sky is a different feature than a flat one ... we don't allow the creation on lens flare either, right?

I'd be happy to be over-ruled, since I'm mostly in favor of allowing greater latitude, but I've had/seen too many unexpected decisions to be wholly confident about recommending anything other than explicitly and literally what the rules say about changing colors.

ETA: I think the middle example is significantly different compositionally from the other two:


Message edited by author 2012-12-27 17:16:54.
 01/05/2013 10:25:49 AM · #11
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I'm taking the conservative approach that a gradient sky is a different feature than a flat one ... we don't allow the creation on lens flare either, right?

I'd be happy to be over-ruled, since I'm mostly in favor of allowing greater latitude, but I've had/seen too many unexpected decisions to be wholly confident about recommending anything other than explicitly and literally what the rules say about changing colors.

ETA: I think the middle example is significantly different compositionally from the other two:


So which of these are you saying is legal in Advanced? Both, neither or just the solid? I would have thought the gradient background changed the original much less than the solid color.
 01/05/2013 11:18:43 AM · #12
Adding a darkening gradient to flat skies at the top has been done in advance since as long as I remember. I know I've done it many times without a problem getting validated.

Message edited by author 2013-01-05 11:21:42.
 01/05/2013 12:24:02 PM · #13
Originally posted by yanko:
Adding a darkening gradient to flat skies at the top has been done in advance since as long as I remember. I know I've done it many times without a problem getting validated.

No kidding. Same here.
 01/05/2013 12:30:54 PM · #14
These all have gradients/vignettes added and they all have been validated:



Look at the original in the photographer's notes on the last one, especially; THAT's a gradient :-)
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