Lighting/PS advice for my new backdrop technique at weddings

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Hi,

 

In my market studio portraiture on location of the B&G is expected, especially

now when by the time we get to photos it is pitch black outside.

 

Until now I've been using a variety of backdrops but to be honest I've gotten

bored of the rather static look so I bought a grey backdrop and a bunch of

gels. Throwing light on the backdrop makes it far more dynamic and this way I

only have to bring one and change the gels rather than changing backdrop for

variety during the session.

 

Problem is that although I can get the coloured light behind the subject, where

the subject stands is lit up by the regular lighting and as such it remains

grey. This is of course only a problem with the full length shots, the crops

look incredible.

 

I can't see of anyway to have the colour projected onto the area stood on by

the subject without doing nasty stuff to the subject themselves, however given

that the full length shots are in a minority, can anyone suggest a quick PS

technique to replace the grey with the colour? I can't seem to get the 'replace

colour' tool to work on this image.

 

For this wedding I'm using masks and cloning but if anyone could help out I

would appreciate it.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Damn, forgot the picture.<div></div>

[edrodgers]

Ben,

 

The color replacement tool doesn't work on neutral colors.. I've fought with that one too.

 

I would probably create an adjustment layer with a mask.

 

-Ed

[vlad khavin]

Ben, this may not fall into the category of incredibly quick fixes, but if it's only a few shots, it may be workable.

 

Select the area that's still grey, and a little extra on the backdrop but excluding the subject. So... the grey portion of the backdrop, and a little bit of where it's lit up by your gel. Copy that selection onto a separate layer, and then use Hue/Saturation to change the color to match your gel. It would take some fiddling around with the sliders, but I think you can get the colors to be acceptably close. Then, delete the overlap area that was lit up by the gel gradually with a soft edge brush, to blend the actually lit backdrop, and your colorized background together.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Vlad

[edrodgers]

Ben,

 

Sorry, Let me elaborate on the mask..

 

Create a color adjustment layer.

 

Then add a mask to the adjustment layer.

 

I would then use a gradient to mask from the area that is in color to the gray area. Then use the paint brush to mask out the dress.

 

Then balance the adjustment layer to match the blue.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Thanks Ed, was tearing my hair out over that!

 

Vlad, this is another shot with a different Gel, a before and after but I used the colour balance adjustment layer as it's even easier than messing with the H/S and you retain the natural look of the lighting. I first masked off the part I wanted then messed around with the colours till they matched. This image took me all of about 30 seconds. Many thanks for helping me be uncomplicated!

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Can't believe I forgot the image - again!<div></div>

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Sorry Ed, we were posting at the same time!

[vlad khavin]

Hey, cool! Simpler is better. I like the look of the gelled background, and especially if this technique works for what you're doing... this seems like a great way to go!

[edrodgers]

I'm glad I was useful!

 

Not a critique, but just a humorous thought..

 

I can imagine the groom saying: "Does this dress make me look fat?"

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Turning the fill off for a more intense colour...

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

This is getting silly, I swear I put the picture in this time!<div></div>

[edrodgers]

I meant no offense to the bride and groom. They are lovely. It's just in the previous image, the dress outlines the groom in a way that he looks bigger around the mid-section than he really is.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Ed, can't see what you mean but please believe me that no offense taken in the slightest. Possibly may be more accurate to make fun of their ages... ;-)

[barry_davis___st._louis__m]

Ben, this isn't a PS technique but I saw a demo last year where the guy put the blue gel over a SB80 (for us Canon lovers a 580ex) and then remotely fired the unit. The unit was directly behind (hidden) the subject. Obviously you need two flash units, one for the fill and one to hit the background...he used a blue gel onto a Wall...it was incredible..