Background.....how to get rid of it?

11/12/2004 01:51:43 PM · #1

Was asked to take a photo of workmate with cat she'd fostered. Very limited where I could take the photo.....both light and b/ground. Don't take many peops pics so wasn't very sure about lighting. Background is yuck!! Is there any way to blur/get rid of the b/g in this pic?

Photo unedited, just cropped and resized for web

Thanks
sue

11/12/2004 01:58:43 PM · #2

What editing software do you have?

11/12/2004 02:01:48 PM · #3

ps 7 and elements, have just got the free download of NI

11/12/2004 02:05:39 PM · #4

another shot........did slight brightness/contrast on this. Not really sure how to edit people!

11/12/2004 02:23:24 PM · #5

I wouldn't edit the second 1 at all. You can you the extract tool to remove the background on the first one.

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/12/2004 02:26:00 PM · #6

Originally posted by spydr:

I wouldn't edit the second 1 at all. You can you the extract tool to remove the background on the first one.

i agree

kevinf

Nikon Coolpix 4500

11/12/2004 02:31:10 PM · #7

I think I would crop the first one to be tighter on her and the cat. That would also cut out most of the background.

11/12/2004 02:46:21 PM · #8

Thanks Kevin....will crop a bit tighter when I've figured out this extract stuff.

Hellllp! Went and looked at the ps help bit.....ended up with the girl and cat on a squared b/g....but when I clicked ok it went back to the ps workpage and the b/g was still there.

Missed a bit out somewhere. Would one of you please give me workflow for this........and do you do it on new layer or duplicate layer

sue

kevinf

Nikon Coolpix 4500

11/12/2004 02:46:47 PM · #9

For example

I also made some minor adjustments to levels, contrast and color.

These are both very nice photos you took.

11/12/2004 02:50:37 PM · #10

Thankyou :) Helps when you have a very attractive model and a cat.....even thought the cat wasn't inclined to co-operate.

Was pleased with the light on her face though as they were taken in the outside cat pens, natural light source only.

peete

Nikon D70

11/12/2004 03:00:42 PM · #11

i just selected the backroud manually, and applied a gaussian blurr or 13 pixels at 65%.
did it quickly so its not perfect, but its just to show you...

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

11/12/2004 03:06:12 PM · #12

when you're selecting the b/g manually do you use the magic wand.....looks great peete thanks

sue

just-married

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/12/2004 04:54:50 PM · #13

I would do what peete did, but with the following method to avoid the halo around the main subject:

make selection (I use lasso, magnet lasso, or pen tool and clean later)
make selection a new channel
clean selection in channels (use paint brush tool. white adds to selection, black detracts.)
load selection (CTRL-click on channel)
invert selection
click back to background layer
click selection tool
right click image and select new layer via copy
gaussian blur new layer
reload selection (CTRL-click on channel)
make sure you're on the new layer
cut (CTRL-X)

HTH.

thatbillguy

Kodak LS443

11/12/2004 04:57:16 PM · #14

I would use either the extract tool or the pen tool in photoshop. If you use extract, use smart highlighting. It gives a cleaner edge.

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

11/12/2004 05:15:26 PM · #15

This is not about processing of the image.
But, maybe next time you could distance the subject a bit from the background and check what your aperture it at. Also, if you have a button on your camera to check DOF, I would suggest to use it to get a general idea of how the end result would be like. It's best to seperate the background when taking the shot rather than trying to do it later.
This might not be of any help to you since you already have the image, but I thought I would post it anyway because sometimes we do forget a lot and someone pointing out helps a lot.

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

11/12/2004 05:18:09 PM · #16

Originally posted by xion:

Sorry to be so naive, but some cameras have a button that you can actually preview DOF? Also - apologize for going a bit off-topic! Thanks!

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

11/12/2004 05:22:31 PM · #17

Some cameras actually do. Even really old manual cameras.
My main camera before I bought D70 was Nikon FE10 and it's got one for that too.
You can press a buttom and the image becomes sort of dark and you can have a good look to figure out where the focus is going all wonky :D

kennyt

Canon EOS-50D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

11/12/2004 07:10:53 PM · #18

I did alot of cloning and then changed the hueof the background. This isnt a perfect attempt but shows another idea.

11/12/2004 07:38:09 PM · #19

WOW......this is all awesome!! Thankyou :)

Photos were taken with the Sony 717, don't think it has a dof preview button. It was just not thinking clearly with the b/g......didn't want the mesh of the cage if I could help and thought the posterboard would be better! D'uh.....I'll know next time!

While I was figuring out what I could (and couldn't do) with ps this morning was playing with the hue/saturation and the eye dropper thingi and came up with this one.......since I couldn't get rid of the b/g I kinda changed it :P

11/12/2004 10:53:39 PM · #20

11/12/2004 11:24:30 PM · #21

That b/g gives a lovely warm feel to the portrait.....cool!

With extracting someone from the b/g like that ....how do you manage to get the individual hairs like you've done. My attempts so far have left a distinct line round her head, not nice!

sue

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

11/12/2004 11:46:35 PM · #22

Use a wider highlighter when going around hair or similar. Then use the art history brush and the eraser to get what you want and nothing more.

riotspyne

Nikon D80

11/13/2004 01:16:11 AM · #23

Originally posted by spydr:

Use a wider highlighter when going around hair or similar. Then use the art history brush and the eraser to get what you want and nothing more.

yeah you make it sound easy but, i wouldnt even know where to start

skylen

Nikon D200

11/13/2004 01:35:08 AM · #24

Originally posted by spydr:

Wow, spydr! That's the best yet. I don't see any blur at the edges of the subject like all the other attempts, as good as they are.