Damien Symonds

This is very hasty, but I wanted to show you how to do it: Download PSD

First of all, I want to say that your job doesn't look at all Photoshopped. Yes, it's not perfect, but will anyone notice? Not a bit. Secondly, I want to say that you were looking at exactly the right method. But because it's the opposite (black background not white) you have to make the background around the hair perfectly black, then use "Screen" blend mode (as opposed to "Multiply" in the white method).

And you're worried about how you lost some wisps of hair, is that correct?

And what will the new background look like?

All of which is very wise. What WASN'T wise was the sharpening. Never sharpen during scanning.

The issue is that MUCH too much sharpening was applied in the scan. Well, it doesn't need a fix, because there isn't a problem. As you said, there's no moire at 100%. So you need to tell the filmmakers to be more careful when resizing. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2015/02/moire.html

Ah, crap. So the negative is long gone?

Well, you need to find out if they're viewing at 100%. Did you scan it yourself, or get somebody to do it?

Well, I'd like to help, if you'd still like to do it.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html It's true that laptop screens aren't ideal, but a calibrated laptop screen beats an uncalibrated desktop screen every time.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/

Keep using the laptop monitor. Buy the calibrator.

Then your alternative is to add a radial gradient to roughly mimic the light that's already there: But that adds a LOT of complexity to the process.

Can you explain a bit more about what you don't like about this result? I'm only looking at a small screenshot, of course, but it looks ok to me.

Oh shit, that's bad. You want the "With Settings" one. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/05/jpegs-in-acr.html

The photo you've just posted has the sRGB profile assigned just fine. In Bridge, go to Edit>Camera Raw Preferences. Do you have this one chosen? https://www.damiensymonds.net/wp-content/uploads/blogger/_FCAHAtBdVFY/S9uus-UP6_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/BbKDmekAxD4/s400/ACR2.gif

Oh Adrienne, your photo makes me cry. PLEASE don't wait too long to take the raw class. Yes, the colour is replaced with the nearest printable colour, but the colour isn't really the problem. It's the SHAPE. The clipped area loses all shape and detail, and ends up just as a flat area of colour.

Exactly as you said. Is this the troubleshooter you're following? https://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tscs2.html

It's not about the clipping, it's about the data quality. ProPhoto is such a huge colour space, which means the available data has to be stretched out over a huge gamut. In 8-bit, it's just not enough data - there's banding. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/09/bit-depth-explained-by-cake.html

Regarding the trees, a Levels layer and move the middle slider on the red channel to the right. Regarding the drama, the time has come: https://www.damiensymonds.net/channel-mixer-class

A little bit of motion blur, so it's not perfect. But yes, it'll pass.

Wonderful news!

Ok, first things first. Do this. Also, this.

None of that stuff matters, don't worry. The big difference, as I've already said, is that you have Bridge now. Concentrate on learning that.

And Bridge?