newbie- realistic edges

I use the blur tool to take the sharp edge off.

Gummo

"dave and kas" wrote in message

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste

it

onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

dave and kas wrote:

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste it onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

Better to mask than cut and paste. Have you tried Extract as a starter? There are several masking techniques you can use. Do a Google search and you will find some tutorials.

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips/photoshop.html
http://www.digitalproducer.com/2002/06_jun/tutorials/06_03/c omposite1cm.htm

among others

Also consider getting a good masking plugin/program like Knockout.

—
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

dave and kas wrote:

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste it onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

I usually select the area to cut, with the feather set to about 0.5, I take the cut layer and place it in a new layer above the background. On this new layer I use the magic wand and select the outside area. (or select invert) I then hit the delete key a few times. With the feather set low, it gently ‘shaves’ off the sharp cut edges. (BTW – make sure and hide edges so you can see the effect without the ‘marching ants’)

Lastly, I switch to the smudge tool with a very small brush, zoom in on the hair and gently pull out realistic hairs or highlights so the hair edge looks more natural.

Another important thing is to match the ‘grain’ and light direction between the ‘cut out’ and the background. I use slight gaussian blur and/or noise to get them similar, so the cutout blends well. HTH.

—

Chris Mork
Owner CCG Sales / Small Business Links

====> A Swarm of Traffic to Your Site <====
Targeted prospects will swarm your site 24/7!
Just 5 minutes to set-up. It’s automated, "viral" and proven – and best of all it’s FREE!
http://www.trafficswarm.com/go.cgi?59216
http://home.fuse.net/ccg/smallbizlinks.html

Gummo wrote:

I use the blur tool to take the sharp edge off.

Gummo

"dave and kas" wrote in message

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste

it

onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

Thanks Gummo, you answered a similar question of my own that no-one else troubled to answer. I had asked what i could do to fade the edges of individual pictures so that they would fade gradually into the white background. I used to feather each selection but again the edges wouldn’t fade gracefully.

"dave and kas" wrote in message

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste

it

onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

http://www.digitalanarchy.com/product_primatte.html

Stephan

"Stephan" wrote in message

"dave and kas" wrote in message

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste

it

onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

http://www.digitalanarchy.com/product_primatte.html

Stephan

*stunned shock*

Stephan, you just recommended a plugin. A $300 one at that.

But then again, he did say he shot a lot of portraits, so I’ll let the professional advise the professional.

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you. Nothing too much, just a giggle.

—
Sally Beacham
www.friendsofed.com/books/1590592387/index.html
www.dizteq.com / www.lvsonline.com
Paint Shop Pro, Memory Page Fundamentals
sallyATdizteq.com

You’re welcome Jimmy.

Gummo

"Jimmy" wrote in message

Gummo wrote:

I use the blur tool to take the sharp edge off.

Gummo

"dave and kas" wrote in message

Hi, i take a lot of portraits, but when i cut out the sublect and paste

it

onto a background layer, the edges always look unrealistic. This is especially apparent on the hair. How do I make it look more realistic? Thanks if you can help,
Dave

Thanks Gummo, you answered a similar question of my own that no-one else troubled to answer. I had asked what i could do to fade the edges of individual pictures so that they would fade gradually into the white background. I used to feather each selection but again the edges wouldn’t fade gracefully.

On Sun, 16 May 2004 23:48:39 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you. Nothing too much, just a giggle.

The mind boggles…

—

Hecate

veni, vidi, reliqui

"Hecate" wrote in message

On Sun, 16 May 2004 23:48:39 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you. Nothing too much, just a giggle.

The mind boggles…

Not what you think, but you can email me too, it’ll put a smile on your face.

—
Sally Beacham
www.friendsofed.com/books/1590592387/index.html
www.dizteq.com / www.lvsonline.com
Paint Shop Pro, Memory Page Fundamentals
sallyATdizteq.com

"Sally Beacham" wrote in message

*stunned shock*

Stephan, you just recommended a plugin. A $300 one at that.
But then again, he did say he shot a lot of portraits, so I’ll let the professional advise the professional.

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you. Nothing too much, just a giggle.

There are a few useful plugins!
Lens Doc is one I use a lot, actually I could not do without it. Nice to see you still around here, I thought you were snobing us now that you had a book out.

Stephan

"Stephan" wrote in message

"Sally Beacham" wrote in message

*stunned shock*

Stephan, you just recommended a plugin. A $300 one at that.
But then again, he did say he shot a lot of portraits, so I’ll let the professional advise the professional.

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you.

Nothing

too much, just a giggle.

There are a few useful plugins!
Lens Doc is one I use a lot, actually I could not do without it. Nice to see you still around here, I thought you were snobing us now that you had a book out.

Nah, I’m an equal opportunity Usenet ignorer – life is way busy and way full.

Book schmook, it’s not like I’m on the cover of an NAPP CD. I still put my pants on over my head, just like you.

*giggle*
—
Sally Beacham
www.friendsofed.com/books/1590592387/index.html
www.dizteq.com / www.lvsonline.com
Paint Shop Pro, Memory Page Fundamentals
sallyATdizteq.com

On Tue, 18 May 2004 00:20:49 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

"Hecate" wrote in message

On Sun, 16 May 2004 23:48:39 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

;-)))).

Hey, email me, I’ve got a little something I’d like to show you. Nothing too much, just a giggle.

The mind boggles…

Not what you think, but you can email me too, it’ll put a smile on your face.

OK 😉 You have me intrigued …

—

Hecate

veni, vidi, reliqui

On Tue, 18 May 2004 19:05:16 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

Nah, I’m an equal opportunity Usenet ignorer – life is way busy and way full.

Book schmook, it’s not like I’m on the cover of an NAPP CD. I still put my pants on over my head, just like you.

*giggle*

Don’t you find they get caught on your ears?…

—

Hecate

veni, vidi, reliqui

"Hecate" wrote in message

On Tue, 18 May 2004 19:05:16 -0400, "Sally Beacham" wrote:

Nah, I’m an equal opportunity Usenet ignorer – life is way busy and way full.

Book schmook, it’s not like I’m on the cover of an NAPP CD. I still put

my

pants on over my head, just like you.

*giggle*

Don’t you find they get caught on your ears?…

Yes, but I’ve practiced getting out of that situation. I’ve got it down pat now.

—
Sally Beacham
www.friendsofed.com/books/1590592387/index.html
www.dizteq.com / www.lvsonline.com
Paint Shop Pro, Memory Page Fundamentals
sallyATdizteq.com

—

Hecate

veni, vidi, reliqui