How to remove spots from a black studio floor?

[thomas_doering]

Hello,

 

I take my photos in a studio, where also some other photographers work.

For reasons of economy the paper background of the studio cannot be swapped as

often as it should. So the background often is dirty and shows spots,

footprints etc.

 

On white background retouching these spots is easy, using the healing brush and

patch tools, Gaussian blur and so on.

 

But on black background I am still not satisfied with the results and the

background still looks dirty.

 

Does anyone know how to make it better?

 

Thanks in advance,

Thomas<div></div>

[d_gillespie]

Short answer: Money - as in buying more paper, longer if not more successful method, flat black spray paint. And lastly a huge sign requiring everyone who even thinks of getting on the paper wear socks, not bare feet, oil, etc. but socks. This is one of those questions with as many answers as causes. Great photo example by the way.

[thomas_doering]

*g

Thanks for that really quick help. Of course this could be a solution.

 

But even when using new background paper a little carelessness can cause a spot, a dot or what else.

 

As retouching this with Photoshop on WHITE background is possible, I do believe that it is also possible on BLACK background. But how?

 

When I see what some photo-mounting specialists can do with Photoshop, there must be a way to remove the spots electronically.

[steven_clark]

You could try working in negative.

[mike cary]

Thomas,

 

Try using the Clone Stamp with the blending method set to light or dark depending on whither the dirty spot or spots are lighter or darker then the surrounding area.

 

Mike

[dan_n1]

I would suggest that you clean an area of the studio real good using commercial

degreaser/floor cleaner with or without a high pressure washing machine - or cover an

area of the studio with clean black paper then take some pictures of the clean area and put

aside.

 

Next, use those clean floor pictures to clone or put it on a layer on top of your images and

erase out to reveal the model(s), use a soft brush to blend...

[mark pav]

Are you talking about the mottled look the floor has? I actually like that look for this photo.

[danny_liao]

I don't know about you guys, but the black floor is not what I'm looking at.=) I think the

image looks fine as is.

[david_myers2]

I would try to "burn in" in the image either by selcting the area and using curves, or by setting a layer to softlight with 50% gray fill and then using the bursh tool to burn. You can get most if not all of the mottled look out using this approach -- happens in my work all of the time.

 

And, would you mind telling us (1) how you set the lights for the image and (2) how you achieved a wonderful glow to the skin?

[thomas_doering]

@all

Thanks so far for your answers. Nevertheless, more hints are welcome, of course.

 

@David:

Of course I can tell you.

The lightset is very simple: I used one single striplight on the right side and a piece of styrofoam on the left side, about 1m away from the model. It is just for giving a little (!) bit light to the back of the model.

 

For B/W conversion I used the plugin "Convert to B&W" (www.theimagingfactory.com). The pre filter color was set to 'green' and I pulled the sliders for 'exposure' and 'multigrade' a little bit to the right. That's all.

The only condition for the glow on the skin is that the model's skin (especially the legs) must be thoroughly shaved.

 

I hope this answers your questions. If not, feel free to ask again!

 

Greetings,

Thomas

[joseph_wisniewski]

My favorite backdrop "fountain of youth".

 

Get two shallow rectangular pans, about 18 inches square. In each pan, you out a folded towel. The towel in the first pan is wet, the one in the second one isn't. Have each person wipe their feet on both towels as they enter the backdrop.

 

Next favorite, if you've got the lighting power to make it work, is the polarizer. Ugly spots on black paper often aren't "dirt" but the result of having the slight "nap" of the paper polished into annoying shinyness.

[lyubov_strauss]

Thomas,

I am photoshop artist. May be I can help. I have to see the picture. my e-mail:

[sashanp]

try the dust and scratch filter, great tutorial on photoworkshop.com