Background Removal/Replacement

[ZippyKB]

Would love an honest critique of this retouching job I did. I color corrected and cut the boy out of his original background, put in the brick wall and baseboard, which was a straight on perspective, so I altered the perspective, added and softened shadows. Would you say that this looks like a real setting? Thanks for any comments!

[Xaran]

The shadows don't look right to me - there appears to be a shadow on both sides. Also the cutout of the hair could be a lot better.

Christine

[ZippyKB]

Thanks for your input! I'll have to check out a tutorial to see how I could do better with the hair. With the shadows, I was trying to give it some depth by placing an additional shadow behind the boy. Guess I did not achieve what I desired, but it seems too flat without the back shadow. Any ideas about how I could better achieve this?

[Xaran]

Try some of the tutorials here at RetouchPro and also http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Christine

[Repairman]

All the clues to a successsful retouch are usually to be found in the original. 1. Use the shadows as 'witnesses' to the details you can't see; to give an impression of shape and volume. 2. His foot is no longer resting on the ledge and why is the shadow on top. 3. The lower bricks look distorted to fit the space. Start with some bold shadows and then remove what's not wanted; it'll be easier. That said, it's improved the on original.
R.

[ZippyKB]

Thanks, I'm going to start it over from scratch and see if I can do better. Then I'll repost it here.

[Daviskw]

Here is an option...for fun...not coolness...lol

Butch