White/gray background

[Paresh]

Hi - Can someone tell me how to get a plain white or gray background for a subject, or maybe there are lots of ways. I don't need step by step directions, just what process is used.
Thanks! Here's a sample link:

https://500px.com/photo/196447947/%D...3&from=popular
.

[Shadowman]

If you are talking about for this forum then go to Forum Actions at top of page and look for forum skin.

[Paresh]

No I mean for post procesing an image.

[Geoff F]

What camera and editing software are you using, Paresh? Do you mean shooting against a coloured backdrop or selecting around an image to isolate it from the background then paste onto a plain new background of your choice.

If you want to do the second option it is a little bit more complicated. Probably just set up a new blank image then fill with a selected colour. Add (paste in) the main image which has been carefully extracted from another image.

[Dave Humphries]

The example picture appears to show a model shot against a nicely lit seamless background.

So that would be my approach

[Black Pearl]

As Dave suggested - shoot your subject against a plain white/grey background.

[Paresh]

Thanks. I use a sony rx 100 & capture one editor. I'm still learning cap 1 & thought the process might be masking, layers, or something like that, as opposed to a model & a backdrop.

[Geoff F]

As previously mentioned, shooting against the desired backdrop is the easy answer, although a bit of skill can still be required to get the lighting correct.

Selecting around the edge of a subject then copying and pasting as a layer on a new background is possible; but great care is required over making the selected area, particularly with fine detail such as hair. Various selection tools are usually required and getting the settings correct requires a bit of experience. Always worth attempting as a learning experience though.

[Paresh]

OK thanks Geoff!

[rpcrowe]

White:

Gray:


I snipped out the image and saved it in Photoshop CC. I then put several NIK Viveza selection points on the background and grouped them. I then placed selection point on face and both arms (to hold these as they were). Using the grouped selection points, I simply increased the brightness.

I did the same for the gray but reduced the brightness rather than increasing....

I may have misunderstood your question. I inferred that you wanted to change this image to a gray or white background.

In shooting, use a white background and light it separately. For gray, you could underexpose the background (while lighting your subject separately) or use a gray background...

[Manfred M]

Paresh - shooting a model on a white or gray seamless paper background with a sweep (the paper has a gentle curve and acts as both the background and the floor) is a very common studio photography technique.

In some ways you have it backwards - the reason that photographers shot with neutral backgrounds is so that the image is easy to composite into other images. The high contrast between the model and the background makes this possible.

That being said, in studio work, using light drop-off against a white or middle gray background, it is fairly easy to change the colour of the background from pure white to pure black. That being said you need a fairly large studio to do this and the background and the model have to be lit separately.

[chauncey]

I simply use cloth from jo-ann fabrics clipped to a pvc pipe frame.

[Manfred M]

I simply use cloth from jo-ann fabrics clipped to a pvc pipe frame.

For this type of shot you need to use a sweep and cloth is not rigid enough to manage easily. One would have to put some significant tension into it at the floor end to get it to work (and some way of restraining the frame holding the horizontal surface from toppling over). Seamless paper is reasonably stiff and uses a simpler and less finicky setup.

[rpcrowe]

I have a collection of Jo-Ann fabrics in various colors and types that I use as backgrounds for my dog portraits. In fact, I am going out this morning to purchase a tan or camel colored fleece to use as a background for a really cute little 4-month old Shih Tsu puppy who is primarily dark brown in color...

[Paresh]

I wondered about Viveza & selection points...actually I didn't have a studio model in mind, but more those impressionistic B&W landscape images that still have a neutral backdrop. I'll upload one. Sorry my original example was misleading.

update - I clicked go advanced & uploaded but don't see the image?

[Manfred M]

Paresh - please look at the following link as to how to post images here.

HELP THREAD: How can I post images here?

If the posted image is not what you meant, then a clearer example would be useful. I know Richard likes Nik Viveza; I on the other hand never use it as I find there are far better tools to use that do a much cleaner job.

[Paresh]

Here's the image...I hope this works.

[Manfred M]

This does not appear to have worked.

Use the "click here to upload photos from your computer", below. Then cut and past the link that TinyPics generates to add that to your posting.

[Paresh]

[Manfred M]

Unfortunately, the detail is so poor that it is impossible to be 100% certain as to how this image was created.

I am suspicious that this might not be a photograph at all, but rather a vector graphics generated image (Adobe Illustrator, for instance). The vertical and horizontal lines seem to be too perfect for this to an image of a real place. Driving posts into the ground to mm accuracy is not something that I would expect in real life.