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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How to get a pure white background?
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Showing posts 1 - 15 of 15, (reverse)
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05/29/2003 03:04:13 PM · #1
Mistakenly posted this same question in Tips and Techniques...I've seen some
incredibly white backgrounds in some pics recently. So white that I know it's
done with PS or some other program. How do I do this in PS 7?
05/29/2003 03:10:41 PM · #2
Dont always assume that it was done in PS. I know photographers that acheive the same affect the old fashion way, lots of light! Its used alot in modeling. One soft light is used to illuminate the subject and many softboxs are possitioned just out of view but directed only on the white backdrop.
05/29/2003 03:14:27 PM · #3
//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=21185

This was done the old fashioned way. No post-processing.
05/29/2003 03:16:07 PM · #4
Dont forget to set your white balance also in your camera to match the type of lighting you are using. Custom white balance is the way to go if your camera has that capability.
05/29/2003 03:18:00 PM · #5
I just take a white piece of paper (white cloth will do too). Once the picture is taken, I play with Level in PS7 (histogram adjustments in PSP7). I move the right arrow to the left until I get the "whiteness" I am looking for.

Example

Works for me. Shot with a banker's lamp with a 60 watt bulb.

Same thinh here (though I didn't want a completely white background).

Example 2


Good luck.
05/29/2003 03:23:25 PM · #6
You can do it with a camera, by setting the white balance to whatever the background is, and exposing correctly for a mostly white subject (+1 or more over the default exposure, depending on background to subject relationship and subject tone

at the extreme end you can get something like this without any photoshop at all
05/29/2003 03:48:26 PM · #7
something i've learned recently is that if i use a light colored background, say white or yellow even, then overexpose +1 as gordon was saying, then go into photoshop and fully brighten and fully desaturate the yellow channel it gives pretty good results.

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=20157

Message edited by author 2003-05-29 15:49:34.
05/29/2003 03:50:11 PM · #8
You can also select the background (presuming the foreground isn't oo fussy) and then flood fill with pure white (not DPC-legal, however)
05/29/2003 05:31:49 PM · #9
I find that by making your background pure white (or pure black for that matter) in editting programs, you ultimately end up affecting the whole image. That's fine if it's just a little tweaking. The obvious solution to this is masking out parts you don't want to affect but that's not legal here. Is there another way to achieve it legally? I mostly use PhotoShop 6.0. On the camera side, for black, I have found higher F-stop and longer distance to the backdrop to be fairly effective. I do however have a hard time getting good solid black underneath a subject no matter what white ballance setting I use; ussually get a purple cast. Any suggestions?
05/29/2003 05:37:35 PM · #10
For a solid black background, nothing beats black velvet. It EATS the light, no need for any tweaking of any kind. Just expose for the subject matter and you're set.
05/29/2003 05:56:28 PM · #11
I agree; I use black velvet all the time and it's great. Except for when one or both of my two white cats get on it. THEN I need the clone tool to get out the hairs!

//www.pbase.com/image/17212531

05/29/2003 06:06:33 PM · #12
I use white foam core board and plenty of light. I also have a black one - used it for my "Bird of Paradise" shot. The trick with the black background is to keep the subject away from it and direct the light onto the subject, not at the background.
05/29/2003 06:09:55 PM · #13
I use black velvet too, a lot---but, as Jak mentioned, one needs a clone tool. I usually just use a lint roller before I set things up----and try to keep the cats off while I'm doing my thing. Amazing how those creatures (a long-haired white cat and a short-haired yellow cat), totally asleep in other parts of the house, know immediately when I get out the velvet.
05/29/2003 06:35:05 PM · #14
where can one find velvet this time of year...i've had no luck in my velveteen quest
05/29/2003 07:00:50 PM · #15
Originally posted by achiral:

where can one find velvet this time of year...i've had no luck in my velveteen quest


Most fabric stores here (east coast) have velvet year-round. It's usually in a section by itself - ask a salesperson. And I would caution you about "velveteen" - some velveteen will shine when light hits it. You need "real" velvet for the perfect backdrop.
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