Splotchy Black Background

[Adinah]

Hi. I'm wondering if  someone in the group can help me with an image.  The black bckgrnd is not completely even. I can't seem to correct it without messing up the entire image. I've given up.   Losing my mind.  Anyone?  Please!

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Adinah, do you mean it's uneven on your screen?  Or in print?  Or both?

[Adinah]

On my screen in Ps.  It would be noticeable in print as well.  

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, we can definitely fix this.

Can you tell me if you edited this in Photoshop, or only Lightroom?

[Adinah]

Basic adjustment/pre set in LR then PS.  Sitting in PS now as it is above.   

[Damien Symonds]

That's excellent.  May I see a screenshot, so I can see your layers panel?

[Adinah]

The problem with that is.. I did not save a psd file prior to the point of realizing it was this way. I thought i was done with it.  Then realized..not when i reopened it.  So..yeah..I messed that up.  

[Damien Symonds]

ALWAYS save PSDs.  Even if you keep absolutely no other files, always save PSDs.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/02/trash-those-jpegs.html

[Adinah]

Sounds smart.  Thanks

[Damien Symonds]

Anyway, we'll just have to do our best to fix it as is.  Here's what you need to do:

First, add a Solid Color layer.  Enter 15 for the R, G and B values:

[Damien Symonds]

After you've made that layer, immediately hide it by inverting the mask.

Then add a Levels layer above that.  Change the white slider from 255 to about 30:

[Damien Symonds]

This will make the whole photo crazy washed out, but importantly, it will give you a very clear view of where the flaws are in the background.

Return to the Color Fill layer, and with a white brush (100% opacity) very carefully paint over those flawed areas until they disappear entirely.

Once you've finished, turn off the Levels layer, so you're viewing the photo in its normal state again.  Turn the Color Fill layer off and on a few times to make sure you haven't accidentally painted over the baby in any places.

[Damien Symonds]

17 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said:

Once you've finished, turn off the Levels layer, so you're viewing the photo in its normal state again.  Turn the Color Fill layer off and on a few times to make sure you haven't accidentally painted over the baby in any places.

Be very thorough with this checking process.  When I tried this fix, I found I very easily messed up the fingers a bit.  So I had to zoom in and fix it very carefully.

[Adinah]

Oh Gd. 

 

Thanks so much.  

[Damien Symonds]

I look forward to seeing the outcome.

[Adinah]

Here is what i have managed to do.  But you can see where it is still on dads arm and a bit on moms.  Are you able to check it?  I can't figure out how to fix this.  Can i pay you to fix it?! 

I sent the psd file to you via email.  Not sure if it went through or not.

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Then I'm really sorry   You'll have to start again from the raw file

[Damien Symonds]

Make sure you process it in 16-bit, not the usual 8-bit.

[Damien Symonds]

Do just the raw processing part, then show me the photo. We'll discuss the approach from there, we'll take it very  carefully.

[Damien Symonds]

@Adinah?

[Adinah]

Hi.  Honestly, i haven't had time to redo it.    I do accounting 8-10hrs a day. So by the time i have a moment to work on my business/editing my brain is fried. 

[Damien Symonds]

Lol, yeah, that'd do it!

[Adinah]

At last..i re did it.  

Let me know what you think. Thanks for your help as well.  

 

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that seems better.