fiing background

[CatherineL]

Is there any way to save this background? I know it's not fixable in RAW, but I'm wondering if I can swap it with a slightly better exposed background from another picture. I have never done anything like this before, so any help is greatly appreciated.

[Damien Symonds]

Well, it won't be easy, but with patience and enough time, it might be possible.

Can you show me the other picture you were thinking of using?

[CatherineL]

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, great!  So, go ahead and process the raw file of that one.  Make it as light as you possibly can, while still retaining visible detail.  Try to get the tree trunks to match as closely as possible to the ones in your people photo.

[CatherineL]

There is some really bad chromatic aberration going on in the picture.

[Damien Symonds]

Gosh, it would be a heck of a lot easier if we could discuss this in the Raw Class.  I'm so sad you let that lapse.

Consider what you need to do to make the tree trunks match better still.

[CatherineL]

I know, I know. I'm kicking myself for letting it lapse. Where do I sign up for the waiting list?

Here is my second attempt.

i could go back to the location and snap a few more pictures. Maybe use my flash next time. Do you think that would that help?

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, that looks more promising.  Did you try ACR's chromatic aberration removal function?  (In the Lens Correction tab).

Also, I just noticed that the people photo has been cropped.  Can you post the non-cropped version?

[CatherineL]

Yes, I did try CA removal in the second edit.  Here is the non cropped version.

[CatherineL]

I went into the HSL/Grayscale tab and played with the magenta and purple sliders under the saturation tab. Does it look any better?

[Damien Symonds]

I can't tell at this size.  Does it look better when you examine it close up?

[CatherineL]

Yes, much better. Should I post the full size?

[Damien Symonds]

Nah, it's ok, I trust you.

I think this will work ok.  It'll take some very patient masking, and you'll need to allow plenty of time for it.

This is rough and incompletely, but promising?

[CatherineL]

Oh, wow. That's amazing, thank you! Do you have a tutorial for that? Is it just putting the background picture over the family and masking?

[Damien Symonds]

Download the PSD

Hopefully it will be self-explanatory.  I placed the photo on, positioned it, then put it in a group with a blank layer for cloning later.  I started masking the group.

As I found some areas that needed cloning, I returned to that layer to do so.

[CatherineL]

You are too kind! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[Damien Symonds]

Let me know how you go.  Remember, it will take a lot of time to do the masking properly.  Don't rush it.

[CatherineL]

How's this?

[Damien Symonds]

Nice work!

[CatherineL]

Thank you! My first time doing anything as complicated as this. I'm off to bed. Again, thanks so much for your help!