Graduation

[Damien Symonds]

Add a mask to your retouching layer, and paint black to hide the hair cloning you did.  Then show me the photo.

[EmmaBrett]

[Damien Symonds]

That's great.

I have one more request, sorry.  May I now have a 100% crop from the hair/background intersection on both you and the blonde girl?

[EmmaBrett]

I'm eager to learn what are you checking for?

[Damien Symonds]

How will this be for matching backgrounds, in order to merge the photos?

[EmmaBrett]

oh my gosh that is brilliant how do you do that?

[Damien Symonds]

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The one of you, the more you paint on the mask of the "Color Fill 1" layer, the more flyaway hairs you'd chop off.  This is immensely preferable to cloning.

The pattern layer is a noise layer.

[EmmaBrett]

Thats amazing can you explain what you did? How did you get the background behind the flyaway hairs?

 

[EmmaBrett]

I have thought about this and do I:

1. Add a colour fill layer to the top of the stack of layers and mask around all three people

2. Then make a new document to the right size, resolution and colour space for printing and add a colour fill layer the same blue as the people then place all three people on and mask around the background that overlaps each person?

3. Post for your feedback then go to the print sharpening class.

[Damien Symonds]

Gosh, I'm so sorry, I forgot to discuss that part.

It's difficult to decide exactly the best course of action here. Do you think there's any chance you'll ever want/need the three photos separately, but with the identical backgrounds? If so, do the three separate files exactly as I have done, then merge them into one later.

But if you're confident you'll only ever need them as one combined photo, merge them together first, then add the blue background on top. Around each head you'll need to use the various 'tricks' as shown in my files.

[EmmaBrett]

I have done each photo background separately as I want to make another canvas of Harry and I. I have changed the background on dad and most of me and Harry. I am having trouble with the flyaway hairs how do you get the background around those?

[Damien Symonds]

On whose photo?

[Damien Symonds]

Your own?

[EmmaBrett]

On my photo and Harry's.

[Damien Symonds]

Have you used the Levels layer on Harry's, and the bottom Solid Color layer (on Multiply mode) on yours?  Exactly the same as my files?

[Damien Symonds]

It's really important to examine my files carefully, and look where I've masked.  Especially on that "Color Fill 2" layer on your photo.

[EmmaBrett]

Not yet as I didn't understand why they had been used 

[Damien Symonds]

Nor will you, until you use them.

[EmmaBrett]

[Damien Symonds]

10 hours ago, EmmaBrett said:

So far so good, but didn't you want to chop off some of the flyaways?  Do that with the mask of the top Color Fill layer.

Also, take a closer look at the mask of the bottom Color Fill layer on my edit.  You'll see I've gently allowed it to come into your hair more, giving a smoother blend.  Your edge is too abrupt.

[Damien Symonds]

10 hours ago, EmmaBrett said:

These two are excellent, well done.

[EmmaBrett]

[Damien Symonds]

Personally I would have left a few more wisps than that, but you've definitely got the right idea, well done.

I can't wait to see how it looks when you've combined everyone into one photo!

[EmmaBrett]

Me too I can't believe I have achieved this with your help! I will combine it today and post.

[EmmaBrett]

How does it look? Need to take it to the print sharpening class next. I have extended the wrap at the bottom using your cloning option (rough cloning). Am really proud of what I have achieved and learned, steep learning curve but worth it.