PLEASE HELP!!! How to make white background look white!

Hi all!

 

I really need some help making my white background actually look white. I've

searched the internet on this topic and have tried all the advise, with no

luck. I'm using a nikon d200, i'm using to umbrellas for the subject, and

shining 2 lights on the background (to the side and behind the subject) to try

to overexpose the background. i've also tried to overexpose by 1,2,and 3 stops

and this works sometimes but not all. I'm actually getting this redish tint

(like my photo is really old or something-see attached), or a background that

simply isn't white enough. I'm not a professional yet and have a lot to learn

about lighting, in fact, I don't even know how to light meter. And I can't

spend a lot either. Do you guys have any suggestions?

You didn't say whether or not you were using static lights or strobes with the umbrellas. The word "shine" makes me think lights.

 

What I see is color shift due to uneven lighting.

 

First: get the background as FLAT as you can get it to go. It will be a LOT easier to do the next step.

 

Second: Make certain that you EVENLY light the background with your lights. Remember- whatever shines brightest will be the most color correct. If you're using two different types of lights- this is your main problem.

 

For example- a tungsten (regular light bulb) EVEN if it is a blue bulb- will burn yellow / redish in the photo if your main lights are flash. (Inherently color-correct.)

 

If you want to do a LOT of this kind of photo using white, you'd be best to buy some CHEAP slave flashes you can "blow out" the background with. Heck- even yard sale flashes with slave sensors on them will do the trick. The other alternative is to use ALL of the same bulbs. They can be 200 watt spotlights from a hardware store- it doesn't matter for digital. But as soon as you mix different brands, different wattages- you'll be very likely to have this problem in even the best set up.

You've got the beginnings of an all white background in your example photo. However, it looks to me like you are using tungsten (common household lightbulbs) lamps to light the background, in hardware store floodlight reflectors or similar.

 

Shawn is exactly right in saying you need a flatter background and more even light. Even with tungsten lighting you can probably blow the background out to full white if you have enough light, spread well, but you'll need to keep it off the subject to avoid odd colored shadows and highlights. If you can't get the reddish color cast from tungsten lights out by overexposing, you'll either have to

1) Gel the lights (you lose some light output and will have to compensate)

2) Fix it on the computer in post proscessing, or

3) Use the same color temperature light as your main light.

 

Also, overexposing the backdrop in comparison to the main subject is necessary in order to get it truly white. You may need more lighting (certainly more even spread of the lights you have at the least) to get the whole backdrop overexposed evenly.

 

We can help a lot more if you give us exact details of your equipment and how you have it setup - camera, lights, etc.

Start with a white background like seamless paper.

 

Light it from both sides ( X lighting) with the same type light as you use on the subject.

 

Half to one stop overexposure may help. Too much and you get flare over subject.

 

You can not simply overexpose a wrinkled tan and make it white.

 

Since you are where you are, select the subject and move it onto a white background created in photoshop. You need both the background and subject open at the same time. Use the move tool.

 

To get the white file, go to File-new and make one the same dimensions, resolution, and bit debth as as the original photo.

 

Option 2 is to select the background and use hue/saturation to lighten and desaturate. Option 1 is better.

I downloaded your original photo and was able to get the background white by selected the background only and then increasing the brightness in photoshop by at least +50. Very easy to do and works if you PS2/PS3 / or Elements.

 

Creating a new image can be a challenge to get right without getting frustrated, especially if you're not used to Photoshop.

 

Dave

The other question is "how white to you feel that you need to go"? I've seen shots where they've got the background perfectly white - and they looked very artificial and asthetically unpleasing.

You guys are awesome- and fast!! You have found my problem! I am using strobes with umbrellas, and you are right on for the background- regular light bulbs with hardware reflectors. I am using different watts for my umbrellas and background lights. I guess thats my problem! Thanks also for the photoshop advise. I did try using photoshop (cs2)and make a new white background for the subject, but I didn't want it so white it looked artificial- and thats all I could come up with. I didn't even think about making the background the same resolution and all as the photo. Would this help it look not so fake, or maybe not using pure white as my color choice in photoshop? Thanks SOOO Much!

If I need a pure white background I do the best I can with lights on seamless paper, then just delete the background leaving pure white in photoshop. This saves me the trouble of trying to get the corners perfectly white, I just delete them.

If you put a cto (orangeish) gel on your strobe it will be about the same colour as the regular light globes and you can correct for the colour with white balance.