3 Steps to a Perfect Studio Backdrop

[DJ Dubovsky]

Finally I found out how to make those soft cloudy studio backgrounds and it's incredible how easy it is. Here's what you do:

1. On the image of your choice apply a radial gradient in the default colors to create a light center to dark edges. You can off set the light spot depending on where you start the gradient point

2. Choose 2 colors of your choice and preferably a noticable contrast in light to dark hues. Choose filter > render > clouds

3. Go to edit > fade clouds and adjust the slider to lessen the effect of the clouds to the desired effect.

Here's what you should get. I could fade it even more to get a lighter center and even softer cloud look.

Enjoy
DJ

[DJ Dubovsky]

Here's another file showing each step.
DJ

[Jill]

Thank you so much for this tip, Wow! Is this something you learned from going to your class? Or just fiddling around yourself? This will be great to use, thanks again!

[DJ Dubovsky]

It was something I got in class. Not even a part of the class but some extra tip. I jumped on it because I knew I wanted to create these myself and I remember the subject came up in this forum by other members who asked how to do this too.

I just can't get over how easy it was to do. And you can apply any color combo as long as they are different in contrast and the highlight can be shifted anywhere depending on where you set the center of your radial blur. Actually, they used a regular gradient in the class but I thought the radial a better choice.

Glad you liked it Jill.
DJ

[Flora]

Hi DJ!

Thank you very much for this tip!
Backgrounds don't come easy to me...but, with your help, now they will!!!

[DJ Dubovsky]

Glad you like it Flora. I had the same problem and found this simple solution. You can even set an action to create it for you.
DJ

[Flora]

Brilliant idea!

The whole procedure is so easy... the results are really striking....and the flexibilty...enormous.....

[DJ Dubovsky]

I would love to say I thought this one up myself but I didn't. It was a little trick Scott Kelby from the NNAP seminar I attended threw in as an interesting little bonus tidbit. Little did he realize it was a gold mine to me since I had been struggling with trying to make those type backgrounds myself with no luck.
DJ

[ghoffman]

DJ,

Thanks for the tip!

I agree with you; I can't believe how simple it is.

Gene

[DJ Dubovsky]

You're welcome Gene. Yeah, it made me feel real dumb after all the things I tried that didn't work.
DJ

[OhThatGirl2001]

Nice tip DJ. I've been busy making backgrounds all night. Nice and easy... gotta love it!

Lisa

[Joe]

Another way to make backgrounds and give you more control over the outcome is:

Select your colors

Render clouds

Render lighting effects

You can use the default light for now, but change the pattern to a circle

Pull the circle out to as big or small as you want it.

Adjust the intensity (6), Focus (3) and Property, Matte -50. That's what this one is set for but of course you can experiment as much as you like.

You can move the light pattern you just created to any location on your backdrop. So if you need a hotspot behind somebodys head you put it higher, you know what I mean.

I'm new to this website and thought I would share that with you because I too struggled with "what to do for a background".

I hope it helps someone!

Respectfully,

Joe

[DJ Dubovsky]

Welcome aboard Joe. Thanks for tip. It definately adds a new demension to making backgrounds. I will have to try it out for sure. Never thought of using the lighting effects but I can see where that would open up a lot of variations.
DJ

[lkeeney]

I took your backdrop and played with it in Photoshop, adjusting it with Curves. You can produce an unlimited range of effects.

Check out this photo, using you modified background.

http://www.bouldercitybmx.com/photog...drop-photo.jpg

[DJ Dubovsky]

Hey Lawrence, that looks great. I'm glad you found it a useful tip. Looks like you can adjust it infinately which is great. That little fellow is adorable. The background works real well with that shot. Also, I see this is your first post so I want to say welcome to Retouch Pro. I think you're really going to have a fun time here. Look forward to seeing more of your work.
DJ

[gadelallo]

I'm not too good at this but I can't get the light in the center of the canvas. I'm using radial gradient as instructed.
Can some one tell me what to do?
Thanks

[DannyRaphael]

Hello, gadelallo, and Welcome to RetouchPRO.

I'm not familiar with this technique specifically, but in reading through the thread I noticed there are two methods described:

1. The first one by DJ uses a Radial Gradient, the result of which doesn't really yield a light in the middle of the canvas.

2. The other uses the Lighting Effects filter, which Joe described and lkeeney used in his example.

So, I'm not quite sure how to help you. Have you tried the Render > Lighting Effects method Joe described?

~DannyR~

[gadelallo]

lkeeney
Great job- how did you get the boy on the backdrop. Did you use extract and if you did how did you get all hos hair to come out so perfect.

[heathrowe]

Nice tip indeed..

One of which I have been employing a lot of lately, and thats the use of the 'Fade' command.

Too bad you only get one shot at its use and its not edit able like an adjustment layer.

Oh well, can't win them all.
Nice Tip
heathrowe

[Melv]

May seem a stupid question to you but for me I'm stumped at the first hurdle.

[WendyW]

Select the gradient tool ... then if you look up at the top of the screen you will see several boxes with gradient options in them. The second one from the left is the radial gradient.

Wendy

[DJ Dubovsky]

Hi Melv, there's no stupid questions here. Chances are others didn't understand the description either so you are helping them in the process. That's always a good thing here.

Ok, lets try to clear it up a bit. In step 1, you open a blank canvas in the size and resolution you need. (see, I had left that little bit out so it was confusing)

Now you should make sure you are in the default colors of white on top and black below in your foreground/background colors. These are the default colors.

Select the gradient tool in the tool palette and set it to the circular (radial) gradient. Select a point in the center of your canvas or a bit off center if you prefer and drag the line outward. This should leave you with a light circular center and a dark outer rim on your canvas. (If not just flip your foreground and background colors and try again)

Now go to your forground and background colors and choose two colors of your choice. I recommend a light color and a darker color to create contrast.
Go to your filter drop down and choose Render > Clouds

That will create clouds that totally obliterate your previous gradient so to allow the gradient to show through you need to lesson the opacity of clouds. You do this by going to Edit > Fade Clouds and adjust the slider way back until you get amount of gradient vs colored clouds that you prefer.

Let me know if that helps clarify things better for you. Good luck.
DJ

[Melv]

OK thank you for that explanation, you say open a new canvas in the size and resolution you need. How do I know this? Is it the same size as the image I will be using or larger?
Thanks for your help.
Melv

[Melv]

Also when done how do I get an image into it (Or vice versa) so this becomes the background.
Melv

[WendyW]

Melv,

One way of doing it is to use one of the selection tools (such as the lasso tool) to select your "person" then do Edit>Copy. Now go to your new background image and do Edit>Paste.

Wendy

[DJ Dubovsky]

What I usually do, if I plan to reuse it, is to open a canvas in a high resolution say 300 dpi or higher if I plan to create a poster size portrait. That way if you need it for a lower resolution image, you can always lower the resolution without any loss as opposed to making it too low a resolution and trying to enlarge it to fit a larger size image you're working with. But if you only plan to use it the one time than yes I would make it the same resolution and dimensions as your image.
DJ

[Melv]

Originally Posted by WendyW

Melv,

One way of doing it is to use one of the selection tools (such as the lasso tool) to select your "person" then do Edit>Copy. Now go to your new background image and do Edit>Paste.

Wendy

Do you use a new layer?
Melv

[Melv]

Also what mode should I be in rgb gives me every colour of the rainbow and greyscale does not let me see anything apart from black and white.
Melv

[Melv]

OK forget the last post I managed to do it in the end but would appreciate help on colours as I'm not happy with the colours I have here. http://www.ukmidlandscanner.co.uk/tracy.htm

[Xaran]

Melv,

Not quite sure what you are trying to achieve but here's what I do when changing a background.

Assuming you are using Photoshop...
Create a new layer select a colour from the part of the image you wish to keep for the foreground. Select a darker shade of the same colour for the background. Using the radial gradient tool drag out from the centre of the image. This will fill the layer with the radial gradient lightest colour should be in the centre. You can drag past the edges of the image to get just the gradient you want.

Now create a hide all layer mask (hold ALT and click on the layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette).

With the mask selected (click on it to make sure) and using white and a hard brush paint over the area you want to hide in the original image. Apply a small amount of gaussian blur to the mask.

Click on the gradient layer thumbnail (to select the layer not the mask) and add a texture.

I selected colour from the hair this allows it to blend in easier.

I also merged visible layers to a new layer - heavy gaussian blur and changed layer mode to screen at 40%.


Christine