I would like to place a portrait of my
Sister onto a background, but I don't want to simply cut and paste, I want to
blend my subject onto the background, and this is where ‘refine edge’ helps to
create that effect.
First I start by opening both images in Photoshop, and as the
tropical image is going to be the background of the final image, I will need to
bring the portrait across to the background document as a new layer. Using the
‘Rectangular Marquee Tool’ found along the toolbar (or press ‘L’), I trace
around the border of the portrait image. A moving outline appears around the
border meaning the image has been selected.
Next I then select the ‘Move’ tool along the toolbar (or press ‘V’)
and I drag the selection to the tropical image document.
My portrait is then added as a new layer atop the background image. I
then move the image to where I wish to place the subject within the background.
As I only want my sister in the tropical background and not the grey
backdrop behind her, I need to isolate her from the backdrop using one of the
selection tools.
To create an accurate trace of the subject without the worry of
unsteady tracing, the polygon lasso tool, found in the toolbar (or press ‘L’)
allows you to trace from linking lines as the outline. To create a more
accurate effect to bring out edge definition in the end result, its best to
keep the outline within the subject’s inner edge, so that the edge can be
recovered.
Once my subject
is outlined, including the area at the edge the image, a selection border
appears to show the isolated object. Next I select ‘Refine Edge…’ found along
the Polygon lasso toolbar options at the top, this then opens up a window.
Under ‘View
mode’ there is a small image of the selection and by clicking on the small image,
I can view the image in different ways, as it gives different options to show
the selection. I chose the ‘on layers’ option so I can view the subject against
the background.
The image
currently looks like a cutout, as there are only straight edges viewed of the
subject. Under edge detection in the window, the ‘Radius’ dial is used to
recover more detail in the outer radius of the selection. As I drag the dial slightly to the right, this
then extends the edge further outward from the outline.
The refine edge
effect in Photoshop makes calculations based on the pixel colour values defined
along the outline and Photoshop attempts to bring out edge detail in the
subject without including the original backdrop. As the radius value is only
set as an over all radius value, there is an option that allows you to manually
extend the radius, by side clicking on the paintbrush image beside ‘edge
detection’ and select ‘Refine radius tool’ give you a paint brush where you can
trace the outer edge by dragging the paintbrush. Once you release the clicker,
Photoshop then calculates the refine edge.
Once I am happy
with as much detail on the edges, my next step is to fix the edge, as it isn’t
entirely natural. Under ‘adjust edge’ there are options the manipulate the
blend of the edge; ‘Smooth’ adds a blur effect to the edge, ‘feather’ well
creates a feathered edge, “contrast’ creates a stronger edge which in this case
is not entirely effective. For my image, I used ‘shift edge’ which softly
blends the image, with value set to 20%, created a nice, soft effect.
In the case of
most images that need to be isolated from the original backdrop, even though
there is refined edge, there are still remnants of the original background colour.
By selecting the box ‘Decontaminate Colors’ and setting the amount that I want,
in this case I have set the amount to 70%, diminishes the colour.
Before clicking
‘OK’ I make sure the Output is set to ‘New layer with layer mask,’ so that when
I click OK a new layer is made from the selection and refine edge and a layer
mask is also set beside the layer. The original layer is automatically hidden,
with the eye icon unselected’, as the layer is not needed anymore.
The mask layer
allows you to make further adjustments by using the paintbrush found along the
toolbar (or press ‘B’), whether the paintbrush is set to white or black allows
you to reveal or hide more of the edge.
As I am happy
with my end result, I don’t make any more alterations with the layer mask. The
very last adjustment I make to my image is using the blur tool found along the
toolbar, to take away detail in the rock beside my subject, as it is in focus.
By slightly blurring the rock, it separates the subject from the background and
creates a sense of depth in the image.
And my end
result:
Sources:
Background Image: http://awsum-wallpapers.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/tropical-lagoon-wallpapers.html Copyright Desktop Wallpapers 2011. Designed by DilipKumar -
Wordpresstoblogger.info
Tutorial: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/selecting-hair/
All Content © 2013 . Not to be duplicated or
redistributed without permission. Photoshop is a trademark of Adobe Systems Inc.
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