Complicated background fix.

[marnarojas]

Hi Damien.  Is there any other way to fix this backdrop other that pixel-by-pixel? (And of course having a wider background paper.)  Of course I wished I had it but didn't.  Thanks for your input.

[Damien Symonds]

Gosh, what you've done looks almost perfect!  Except that it's not really wide enough, is it?

[Damien Symonds]

If it was my image, I'd do it this way.

[marnarojas]

Thanks so much, Damien!  I knew you'd have something to say about this one.  My interest is peaked, so going to your "Examples" now.  I have such a headache from the editing of this background.  I won't count the hours for you.

 

 

[marnarojas]

Guess I better go back to learning about gradients and masking..........

[Damien Symonds]

I had a play, but I don't think it's as good as yours:

[marnarojas]

Hey, Damien!  Keep practicing. You'll get it! What I really want to know is how you did such a perfect mask in such a short time??  That's where I'm going bonkers.  I think your attempt is great.  I would maybe add a little grey to that shadow??  But as always, I am in complete AWE of your knowledge and expertise.  Thanks so much.

Edited February 16, 2016 by marnarojas

[marnarojas]

Also, did you use 2 Linear gradient on your attempt??  One for the floor and a different one for the vertical sweep??  How does that work??  And how did you extend all the way to the edge so perfectly that shadow that cuts through the image.  Please explain.  Thank you!

[Damien Symonds]

33 minutes ago, marnarojas said:

Hey, Damien!  Keep practicing. You'll get it!

Download the PSD file

[marnarojas]

Brilliant!!!  Thank you!

That's another Play Day!

[marnarojas]

First attempt at doing it Damien's "Right Way or the Highway."  I'm not too familiar with working with gradients and masks.  So I'm sure I did the linear mask incorrectly because I couldn't create clipping masks on the radial gradients, so had to still do a lot of painting off. ( Back to Photoshop to play more.) But I do LOVE the effect.  Looks so much cleaner.  And as "proud" as I was of my first attempt last night, I did see some horrible banding and color "patches" when I posted that image in another forum this morning. OMG! IT LOOKED TERRIBLE!   Would like to show you my layers of the new file from this morning but can't send a .psd file.  So am sending a screen shot. Thanks for all of your help!  I'm a loyal fan and an eager student.

[Christina Keddie]

Eek!!  You've got color space issues!

Go all the way through this, please, to fix them: http://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tscs000.html

[Damien Symonds]

Oh no!!!!!!

[marnarojas]

Slap Forehead.  Slap Forehead again.  Bang head on table. Repeat.  Damien.  Keep me in the Raw Class for a few more days please.  I plan to renew it now.  But it will take me a few more days now to recover and re-edit this image. 

[marnarojas]

Thank you for the Trouble Shooter on Past Files.  Went through all the steps.  I PROMISE NOT TO DO THIS NONSENSE AGAIN!!! But can I get by with this image now converted to the sRGB colorspace, without starting from the very beginning?

[Damien Symonds]

I'm not sure.  May I see a screenshot of your layers panel?

[marnarojas]

Yes, but the file that I just sent is a jpeg that I "converted" to sRGB exactly as you recommended so the layers were flattened.  But fortunately I saved the "original" edit (in Adobe RGB) with the layers.  Before I send it though, I'm sorting through the "Adding Noise" file because I still see a hint of banding. Thanks!  File to follow in a few more minutes.

[marnarojas]

Before adding noise:

[Christina Keddie]

Wait -- we never ever recommend flattening your files.  When converting to sRGB, you should make sure to UNcheck "Flatten image to preserve appearance."

[marnarojas]

Alright.  I will take a screenshot to show you where I read that.  I was saving from PS to final output jpeg so I could convert to sRGB but the original .psd file is intact with all of the layers.  Will send a screen shot of that now. With noise added.  I couldn't figure out how to select my subject and apply a gradient to everything but that selection??? So was unable to "create clipping masks."  Please advise.

[Christina Keddie]

Just went through the troubleshooter myself to check, and you only get the screen telling you to have that flatten box checked if you've previously clicked a link saying you don't care about the quality of your photos.

[marnarojas]

I just found this.  This is what I read earlier.  I have my Master File in tact (in Adobe RGB) with all layers.  I made a copy and flattened per the recommendation (attached screenshot), covered to sRGB and saved as jpeg output.  Am I missing something?

[Damien Symonds]

No, that's fine.

[marnarojas]

Better? If so, I'm going to use this now as my base file and just drop different critters onto the bench.  Raccoons, snakes, koala bears, kangaroos................

[marnarojas]