I wanted to share another portrait that one of our new Digital Creation’s Club members created.
She wrote me an email asking if I’d take a look at her first attempt. I was blown away.
She did AWESOME!
Here’s what she said:
========================
Hi Scott,
I Joined about a month ago, after reading and watching all your lessons on the membership page (which took me about 2 1/2 weeks, mostly because I have 3 very young children).
I have never used these techniques in Photoshop, only used the clone, dodge ( which I used the burn tool to create shadow under the dress and feet) and other basic tools.
Before I decided to offer this technique… I gave it a try.
I download the Easter Digital Creation and then photographed my daughter on a white background. Then cut her out using many of the techniques you provided. I just would like you if possible to look at it and let me know what may need to be corrected.
It looks good to me but I think there is something off about it, cannot put my finger on it ( just could be my daughter extremely Pale skin).
It is amazing what Photoshop can do.
Thanks for all the hard work you put in to your videos and other things on the site they are a big help.
Best regards and thanks!
Liv B.
=======================
Check out the images below that she sent me so you can see the Before and After. She did AWESOME!
I wanted to show that if you’re willing to learn, you can create Amazing portraits. Even if you just want to add this service to your current business. People will love them 
Here’s another portrait using the same Digital Creation by another member.
Denise Riggs Portrait Design
Leave A Comment Below:
24 Responses to “(Before and After) Digital Backgrounds Create More Amazing Portraits”
Loading ...
very very nice all i can say is Wow good job
She certainly did an awesome job with the cutout, coloring and all of it. She will do well selling this to clients (of their children of course).
There is a way within Photoshop to make your photos blend in better with the new environment. If you are interested, let me know.
I am interested in how my photos will blend in better with new environment. Question directed to Lisa and thank you. These portraits look really good.
I will work on a tutorial for you. It will take a few days, we have company in town until Monday.
Lisa, don’t leave us hanging! Always interested in new ways to make Photoshop do a better job. I suspect it’s feathering, but what say you?
Hi Lisa, I too am interested in this blending. I use Scott’s suggestions and creations all the time but always feel like something just isn’t right, as if the subject is kind of floating there and doesn’t really belong there. Can’t wait to see what you have.
Hey Scott, I signed up 4 the $1 trial. How do I get to backdrops ?
She did an excellent job with that photo! Thanks for sharing.
I would also like to be a part to have Lisa Hanson teach the technique. I am always wanting to learn more. Thank You So Much.
Linda
Boy…writing all the steps down is harder than you think. Hope it works for you. Hope I did not forget a step. Scott my have to do a video it kind of explains it better if you can see it.
This will give your person image the same feel as any digital background.
Bring up both images.
1. On the Person document make your selection or remove background.
2. Drag your person image into the digital background document (you will have 2 layers).
3. Close person document.
4. Scale person as needed.
5. On the person layer (Layer 1) – Control click (makes selection)
6. Go to the Background layer and duplicate it. Drag it to the top
You will have 3 layers 1.(bottom) Background layer 2. (middle) Person – 3. Top Layer – is a duplicate of back ground.
8. Turn off the the bottom two layers. Person and original background.
7. Click on the Top layer – you will see the marching ants in the shape of your person.
9. Select – Inverse – Delete (only the shape of the person will be there but with the background will remain)
10. Control – click on the shape of the person to get a selection.
Filter – Blur- AVERAGE – This will probably give you a grey looking shape of your person – This will take all the colors that are in that selection and give you an average of all those colors.
11. Turn on the other 2 layers
12. On top layer change the Layer Mode to Color and lower the opacity way down to probably 20 or 30 percent.
The person image should have the same look as the background. As if the person was shot at that location and not in a studio.
Hope this works for you!
I second (and third
) all the others- theres definitely room for improvement espescialy if you want to sell these photos. Lisa- I would love to see what you can teach us. Espescaily for hair although Liv B did a fantastic job- considering that the little girl has lots of curly hair- which can get tricky to extract. She also changed the color of the shoes- or did that happen as a byresult of the other changes she might have done on the image in photoshop? Looking forward to hear from you guys and thanks Scott for making all this possible!!!
Nathalie
Nathalie
Thanks Lisa- your answer popped up just as I clicked the “submit comment” button
- will definately give this a try!
Thanks for the steps Lisa, I’m not sure I completely understand it, but I’ll try. I’ve always wondered if there was a technique to make the coloring match when you insert people into backgrounds. Those fantasy/fairytale digital images are the worst for me, the people/subject doesn’t match the dreamy fairytale background at all and I wasn’t sure how to blend them in, so hopefully this technique will work with that if I can duplicate what you wrote. Scott, this would be a GREAT video tutorial for the Digital Creations Club! (hint)
Thanks Lisa…I’ll play around with it. I did a quick test and I get better results with the way I’ve been currently doing it. Maybe it would work with an image that wasn’t properly exposed. This seems like it would be for color matching if it’s off.
I see more people having issues due to the cut-out edge looking to soft or to hard.
Thanks again Lisa!
Yep, this method is just for better blending in of colors from the subject to the background. In other words to make it look like it was shot at the same place at the same time. I have noticed several examples from others as well as mine, where it looks like the person was shot in a studio and the background was added…very cut and paste. This method seems to work for me.
For the cut-out I am trying a software specifically designed for cutting out. I am not getting the results I am happy with using the selection or eraser tools. I am close, but not quite there. Especially with the hair. Ugh.
Thanks Lisa,
The before and after picture shows the results that Liv used from the videos I created in the club. It take some practice, but if you follow the tutorials you should receive similar results.
I think everyone should always be learning and trying to find easier ways, but sometimes practicing is the best thing.
If you find easier methods…please share.
Try using the Match Color command in Photoshop. Set destination as the image you want to change and Source as the image you want to match. Click source popup menu and choose the image you are working on. Set Layer to Background. Adjust the Fade and Luminance values to restore a percentage of the original colouring mixed in with the new coloring. If brightness is a problem, adjust. This should even color differences between the two photos
I have been using chromekey & creating my own digital backgrounds. I especial love to do this for my area firefighters here in northern NJ. Thank you for any tips.
Absoulutley adorable!! It’s perfect! I unfortunately don’t have any clients and I cabt get my kids to sit still. Lol I can’t wait to produce photos like this!! Beautiful!!
Thanks for those tips. I tried Jane’s tip and it works really well!
Lisa is there a video that explains the blending process in photoshop i am better at seeing it then trying to read it and figure it out. great work.
Kelly
Liv B you got it the WOW. Just keep work at it, you will never be compleaty happy with it, but others will say WOW. Good luck
Hey everyone keep up the good work, you inspire all the people who would love to learn how to maneuver around the frighten PHOTSHOP TOOL BAR but are computer and technically challenged. I have photo shop and trust me all theses tool are not so easy to learn; and I don’t have mega hours to sit and play! I wish there was an easier and faster tool bar… I just want to learn how to make memorial photos with wings for children goon too soon like my child…