Laura T Posted May 21, 2018 Posted May 21, 2018 I create photo tutorials for sewing patterns, and would like to know if there's an efficient way to get a pure white background. I've attached two example photos that I haven't done any editing on yet. Some are easier than others to edit, due to fabrics used and light at the time the photos were taken. Whenever I've done this in the past it's been very time consuming and I will have 10 or more photos for each tutorial. I found a tutorial on Youtube where they could do it really quickly using actions (that they sold), so I was wondering if you had any suggestions.
Damien Symonds Posted May 21, 2018 Posted May 21, 2018 Just to clarify, you definitely need white? Not transparent?
Damien Symonds Posted May 22, 2018 Posted May 22, 2018 Okey dokey. Before we get to that, let's address the MUCH worse problem: https://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tscs000.html
Damien Symonds Posted May 22, 2018 Posted May 22, 2018 Oh, and while you're fixing the colour space, go ahead and do your raw processing on those two photos. Then post them again for me.
Laura T Posted May 22, 2018 Author Posted May 22, 2018 I've checked them both following the instructions you linked and they're both sRGB 8 bit. As I was just trying to show you examples quickly I had just exported these .jpgs from RAW, rather than take them into PS. Could that be causing whatever is concerning you? They also show are sRGB 8 bit in RAW though.
Damien Symonds Posted May 22, 2018 Posted May 22, 2018 Oh, ok, phew! Well, go ahead and do their raw processing, and make sure you post the proper sRGB versions for me when you post them again.
Laura T Posted May 24, 2018 Author Posted May 24, 2018 Second photo This was the video I mentioned earlier
Damien Symonds Posted May 24, 2018 Posted May 24, 2018 The second photo is good. The first one is NOT.
Damien Symonds Posted May 24, 2018 Posted May 24, 2018 There's an important question I forgot to ask earlier. Are you familiar with using the Shift key? https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/10/shift-while-brushing.html While it's possible to apply "tricks" to some images to whiten their backgrounds, there are other images (like your first one) for which there is simply no alternative than masking on a white Solid Color layer using the shift key.
Laura T Posted May 29, 2018 Author Posted May 29, 2018 Yes, I had read about the shift key before. I am glad you suggested masking on a white Solid Color layer, as that was the approach I had taken. I will redo the edit for the first photo and post the results for the second photo, thanks.
Laura T Posted May 29, 2018 Author Posted May 29, 2018 This is with a white Solid Color layer for photo 2.
Laura T Posted May 29, 2018 Author Posted May 29, 2018 I'm struggling a bit with photo 1. Any suggestions for how to improve this? I have the fabric next to me and the colours in that look good.
Damien Symonds Posted May 29, 2018 Posted May 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Laura T said: This is with a white Solid Color layer for photo 2. Actually, it is the other photo that needs the Solid Color method. I could have suggested an alternative method for this one, but at the end of the day, the Solid Color method works for any image with hard edges.
Laura T Posted May 29, 2018 Author Posted May 29, 2018 Would the other method be any more efficient for that photo? I would be interested to know what it is. Also, did you see my question about the redo of the RAW edit of photo 1? Happy to take it into RAW area if you'd prefer.
Damien Symonds Posted May 29, 2018 Posted May 29, 2018 11 minutes ago, Laura T said: Also, did you see my question about the redo of the RAW edit of photo 1? Happy to take it into RAW area if you'd prefer. Yes, you'd better do that. 11 minutes ago, Laura T said: Would the other method be any more efficient for that photo? I would be interested to know what it is. It might, but let's not re-invent the wheel. You've already done that photo, so post another one for me.
Laura T Posted May 30, 2018 Author Posted May 30, 2018 OK, here is another one. They are difficult to see at the moment but there are loose threads either side of the fabric pieces that I would like to be more obvious.
Damien Symonds Posted May 30, 2018 Posted May 30, 2018 Holy moley. That's a different matter. May I see a closeup of those threads?
Damien Symonds Posted May 30, 2018 Posted May 30, 2018 Gosh. Was it any more visible than this SOOC? I wonder if it might be necessary to change the raw processing a little?
Laura T Posted May 30, 2018 Author Posted May 30, 2018 Yes, definitely more visible, this is SOOC. I did wonder if I would have to do that but then wasn't sure how to also make the background white.
Damien Symonds Posted May 30, 2018 Posted May 30, 2018 Yeah, it's a REALLY tricky one, all right. I guess you'll have to leave the raw edit a bit darker; but then you're condemning yourself to VERY painstaking masking of the white Solid Color layer around those threads.
Laura T Posted May 30, 2018 Author Posted May 30, 2018 OK, I was hoping you might have a magic trick to share I'll try that tomorrow, thanks. Fortunately it's the only one of this set that is like this.
Damien Symonds Posted May 30, 2018 Posted May 30, 2018 One thing I realise I haven't asked - how do you feel about the natural shadows that appear below some of these fabrics? Stay or go?
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