Background Blur and Brighten
Oct 21, 2012 22:17:50 #
I have a group photo I am happy with, but struggling to alter the background. I would like to brighten and possibly blur the background without changing the people in the photo. I have Lightroom and Elements 10 and so far have not found a clean way to do this. Suggestions?
Oct 22, 2012 00:20:33 #
I think doing that would look fake/contrived and would degrade the image. The environment really is not bad.
I would, however, clone or crop out the umbrella reflections.
I would, however, clone or crop out the umbrella reflections.
Oct 22, 2012 00:30:51 #
As the Captain suggested, cloning-out or cropping-out the distracting umbrella reflection is a good idea.
I also suggest a bit of contrast lightening, separating shoes & pants from carpet.
I also suggest a bit of contrast lightening, separating shoes & pants from carpet.
Oct 22, 2012 06:35:33 #
I think I am fallling prey to various comments from the group. Several that think the pic is too dark. I brightened the background using the quick selection tool in Elements. Kind of like the image, but there is a small white outline around the people.
Also, have another image that works, but would have to clone out the cars on the left. Not sure how that would look.
Also, have another image that works, but would have to clone out the cars on the left. Not sure how that would look.
Oct 22, 2012 07:12:45 #
Out of the Fog
Loc: Eastern Edge of North America
Hi,
You did quite well with a glass background. Is there a reason you chose that location for your group photo?
Glass backgrounds cause many issues such as: reflections from many sources, distractions on the other side and backlighting issues. If you have a choice!
You did quite well with a glass background. Is there a reason you chose that location for your group photo?
Glass backgrounds cause many issues such as: reflections from many sources, distractions on the other side and backlighting issues. If you have a choice!
Oct 22, 2012 07:15:42 #
You could try selecting the people, then adding about 50 points on the feathering. Inverse the selection. First lighted the background then using Gaussian Blur put the background out of focus. I have done this very quickly just to give you an idea. The more time spent the better the result.
I hope this helps
I hope this helps
Oct 22, 2012 08:08:56 #
What I would do is make a new layer with the lighting the way you want it for the people. Then copy that to a new layer above. Apply a fairly strong Gausian filter to blur everything. Then apply a mask to the blurred layer and paint in black everything you want sharp. The advantage of the mask is that you can go back and forth between painting in black, white, or even grey to get exactly the effect you want without any apparent artifacts.
I'd also crop in little tighter.
I'd also crop in little tighter.
Oct 22, 2012 12:17:48 #
Lynamick wrote:
You could try selecting the people, then adding about 50 points on the feathering. Inverse the selection. First lighted the background then using Gaussian Blur put the background out of focus. I have done this very quickly just to give you an idea. The more time spent the better the result.
I hope this helps
I hope this helps
That's not bad but I'd use a gradient so that the foreground isn't blurred too.
Oct 22, 2012 12:23:58 #
Here's the result.
mdeman wrote:
What I would do is make a new layer with the lighting the way you want it for the people. Then copy that to a new layer above. Apply a fairly strong Gausian filter to blur everything. Then apply a mask to the blurred layer and paint in black everything you want sharp. The advantage of the mask is that you can go back and forth between painting in black, white, or even grey to get exactly the effect you want without any apparent artifacts.
I'd also crop in little tighter.
I'd also crop in little tighter.
If you don't want the foreground blurred, unmask it.
Oct 22, 2012 12:32:18 #
The problem with the blur thing is that REAL DOF is softer farther away than the structure right behind them. Now maybe most people would not notice that it looks faked, but I would leave it alone. Oh - the blur at their feet makes no sense at all.
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
Oct 22, 2012 12:38:43 #
I would not blur at their feet normally in this particular picture. But I have often had ones with much more foreground. To get a more natural effect, I then blur both the background and the foreground. Obviously in this case it wasn't necessary, and if done, should be much more subtle than I showed. I forgot to mention that you also need to change the opacity on the blurred layer to get the degree of subtlety required.
CaptainC wrote:
The problem with the blur thing is that REAL DOF is softer farther away than the structure right behind them. Now maybe most people would not notice that it looks faked, but I would leave it alone. Oh - the blur at their feet makes no sense at all.
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
Oct 22, 2012 12:57:20 #
So many good suggestions. As was mentioned, the first is fine pending removal of reflections in the glass.
As it is, you have a nice corporate image. The background is just bright enough to give a sense of where they are.
In my humble opinion, by making the background brighter, you will go from a group of corporate types at their place of work, to a building with a bunch of corporate types blocking your shot.
As it is, you have a nice corporate image. The background is just bright enough to give a sense of where they are.
In my humble opinion, by making the background brighter, you will go from a group of corporate types at their place of work, to a building with a bunch of corporate types blocking your shot.
Oct 22, 2012 13:18:11 #
Oct 22, 2012 14:42:04 #
CaptainC wrote:
The problem with the blur thing is that REAL DOF is softer farther away than the structure right behind them. Now maybe most people would not notice that it looks faked, but I would leave it alone. Oh - the blur at their feet makes no sense at all.
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
mdemen's example is the best of the bunch, but I am still not so sure the original is not the best as long as you get rid of the reflection
I would TOTALLY agree with this. All of the adjusted pics have really taken a lot away from the people. Crop or clone the umbrella reflections and leave the rest alone!
Oct 22, 2012 18:39:13 #
Out of the Fog wrote:
Hi,
You did quite well with a glass background. Is there a reason you chose that location for your group photo?
Glass backgrounds cause many issues such as: reflections from many sources, distractions on the other side and backlighting issues. If you have a choice!
You did quite well with a glass background. Is there a reason you chose that location for your group photo?
Glass backgrounds cause many issues such as: reflections from many sources, distractions on the other side and backlighting issues. If you have a choice!
I simply couldn't find anything better. It was a dark cloudy morning which helped.
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