replace background

[norbertsf]

I want to replace a product studio shot's seemless background color from white to black. The products are on the seemless, so they cast VERY soft shadows (superlight grey).
I want to keep these shadows and make the backgound a belivable BLACK seemless.

I have tried endless layer effects, replacement color, selective, etc.

Is there a way to do this?

[Doug Nelson]

Shadows are darker than what they fall on, so a truly black background won't show shadows.

[norbertsf]

Yes I understand that part, but I guess what I am trying to explain is that the background when replaced or filled looks fake in black, and otherwise it goes too grey/white.

I think I might have to fill and then come back and selectively "erase" the black areas and also selectively control transparency of the "black" so that it doeas not look like a "filled" background.

There should be a sheen difference depending on the angle of the seemless, which is getting lost.

Norbert

[bart_hickman]

Are you saying you really don't want a black background but instead you need some sort of black/dark gray gradient?