Portrait backdrops

CB
Posted By
Colonel Blip
Dec 11, 2005
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1141
Replies
21
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Closed
Hello, All!

Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in professional studios) pictures that are freely available?

Thanks,
Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

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N
Nysports
Dec 11, 2005
this is a place I found to be good

http://www.owens-originals.com/cdrom/digital-backdrops-on-cd -rom%20.html

http://www.photochimper.com

Colonel Blip wrote:
Hello, All!

Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in professional studios) pictures that are freely available?
Thanks,
Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

—-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption =—-
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 12, 2005
I royally messed up on this question. What I meant was backdrop digital picture files that can be used in photoshop to take the place of the background in an existing portrait. I’ve taken some family pictures with a burgandy sheet background that will allow me to remove the background "cleanly" and now I need to replace it with a different background.

The way I wrote the original note I can see that it may appear I wanted a physical screen like portrait photographers use.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

CB> Hello, All!

CB> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in CB> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?

CB> Thanks,
CB> Colonel Blip.
CB> E-mail:

CB> —-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet CB> News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the CB> World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
CB> —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption CB> =—-

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GP
Gene Palmiter
Dec 12, 2005
There is someone…or someones…selling them on Ebay all the time.


Thanks,
Gene Palmiter
(visit my photo gallery at http://palmiter.dotphoto.com) freebridge design group
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that are swift in running to
mischief, false witnesses that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.Proverbs 6:16-19

www.route611.com & Route 611 Magazine
"Colonel Blip" wrote in message
I royally messed up on this question. What I meant was backdrop digital picture files that can be used in photoshop to take the place of the background in an existing portrait. I’ve taken some family pictures with a burgandy sheet background that will allow me to remove the background "cleanly" and now I need to replace it with a different background.
The way I wrote the original note I can see that it may appear I wanted a physical screen like portrait photographers use.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

CB> Hello, All!

CB> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in CB> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?
CB> Thanks,
CB> Colonel Blip.
CB> E-mail:

CB> —-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet CB> News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the CB> World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
CB> —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption CB> =—-

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MH
Mike Hyndman
Dec 12, 2005
CB,

Have you thought of making your own backdrops?
That way you can tailor the colours etc., exactly as you want them to compliment or contrast with your subject.
A "google" for them brought up the following
http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ &sdn=graphicssoft&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitaltropic. com%2Ftutorials%2Fbackdrops.htm

amongst many.
HTH
MH
remove -bats- to reply

"Ingratitude is never having to say thankyou".
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 12, 2005
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 10:58:03 +0000:

Thought about it but figured it had already been done many times before. Thanks for the link. I will take a look and see if that is even a better solution.

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

MH> CB,

MH> Have you thought of making your own backdrops?
MH> That way you can tailor the colours etc., exactly as you want them to MH> compliment or contrast with your subject.
MH> A "google" for them brought up the following MH>
http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ &sdn=graphicssoft&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitaltropic. com%2Ftutorials%2Fbackdrops.htm

MH> amongst many.
MH> HTH
MH> MH
MH> remove -bats- to reply

MH> "Ingratitude is never having to say thankyou".

—-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption =—-
MH
Mike Hyndman
Dec 12, 2005
"Colonel Blip" wrote in message
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 10:58:03 +0000:

Thought about it but figured it had already been done many times before. Thanks for the link. I will take a look and see if that is even a better solution.
Colonel,

It probably has, but the chances of finding exactly what you want could take longer than doing one yourself.
The usual starting place for backgrounds (not all, I’ve seen some excellent blurred "grunge" brush creations) is the clouds filter. Just sample two colours from within your composition, "clouds" it then hit with various distortion and blur filters.

Have fun!

MH
JF
John Forest
Dec 12, 2005
It is easy to make your own digitally. Just make a new layer and set your foreground and background colors to what you want. Fill the layer with the background color. (I usually use two shades of brown.) Then just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one that you like. You can modify it some more with gradients, or by softening it with the blur filter. I have found that it often works better if I select a smaller portion of the layer, copy it and then paste it in to make the pattern bigger.

The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is in front of to put it in your new background.
B
birchr
Dec 13, 2005
The direct link without the annoying About web site header .. http://www.digitaltropic.com/tutorials/backdrops.htm



Randy Birch
MS MVP Visual Basic
http://vbnet.mvps.org/
———————————————————— —————- Read. Decide. Sign the petition to Microsoft.
http://classicvb.org/petition/
———————————————————— —————-

"Mike Hyndman" wrote in message
: CB,
:
: Have you thought of making your own backdrops?
: That way you can tailor the colours etc., exactly as you want them to : compliment or contrast with your subject.
: A "google" for them brought up the following :
http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ &sdn=graphicssoft&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitaltropic. com%2Ftutorials%2Fbackdrops.htm
:
: amongst many.
: HTH
: MH
: remove -bats- to reply
:
: "Ingratitude is never having to say thankyou".
D
dvus
Dec 13, 2005
John Forest wrote:

It is easy to make your own digitally. Just make a new layer and set your foreground and background colors to what you want. Fill the layer with the background color. (I usually use two shades of brown.) Then just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one that you like. You can modify it some more with gradients, or by softening it with the blur filter. I have found that it often works better if I select a smaller portion of the layer, copy it and then paste it in to make the pattern bigger.
The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is in front of to put it in your new background.

He indicated he’d used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which brings up something I’ve wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether one or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait images? It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make selection of the subject easier as in the above case, but what about backdrops meant to be kept as such?


dvus
MH
Mike Hyndman
Dec 13, 2005
He indicated he’d used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which brings up something I’ve wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether one or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait images? It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make selection of the subject easier as in the above case, but what about backdrops meant to be kept as such?
Dvus,

A good portrait is just that, a good portrait. Having a nice background won’t make a bad or mediocre portrait any better, but an unsuitable one (easy to fix with PS ;-))will detract from a good portrait. It is very subjective. The best way to learn about them is to look at portraits, then ask yourself what you like or dislike about the picture. Is it the pose;the subject; the tonal range, that appeals or not? The background normally provides isolation for the portrait either by muted colours (if indeed it is a colour shot)or through selective focussing. Again though, this is not set in stone. If you wanted to portray your sitter in a particular environment etc., say an artist in a studio or someone at work or involved in a particular sport or hobby, you could set them against, in front of, things the viewer would expect to see them surrounded by. (A bit like reportage work) It all boils down to what you want your picture to say and what characteristics or personality traits you want to reveal in your sitter. With PS, changing backgrounds, once the subject has been isolated is as simple as a couple of clicks (as you are probably aware). As to what colour background for easier isolations I tend to use a white one for all my subjects. I did try coloured backgrounds for lighter haired ones but even then you can get coloured reflections and shadows in the subject which can cause removal problems.

HTH
MH
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 13, 2005
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 19:19:01 -0000:

Looks like I’m heading in this direction since, thus far, I’ve found none available otherwise.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

MH> "Colonel Blip" wrote in
MH> message ??>> Hello, Mike!
MH> Colonel,

MH> It probably has, but the chances of finding exactly what you want could MH> take longer than doing one yourself.
MH> The usual starting place for backgrounds (not all, I’ve seen some MH> excellent blurred "grunge" brush creations) is the clouds filter. Just MH> sample two colours from within your composition, "clouds" it then hit MH> with various distortion and blur filters.

MH> Have fun!

MH> MH

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CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 13, 2005
Hello, John!
You wrote on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:19:12 -0500:

Agree on the second para. I tried to pick a sheet color that was a real contrast to the skin and clothing and hair (nice to have gray hair at times like these <g>). Time will tell if that makes it a clean selection or if I end up with halo after halo.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

JF> It is easy to make your own digitally. Just make a new layer and set JF> your foreground and background colors to what you want. Fill the layer JF> with the background color. (I usually use two shades of brown.) Then JF> just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one JF> that you like. You can modify it some more with gradients, or by JF> softening it with the blur filter. I have found that it often works JF> better if I select a smaller portion of the layer, copy it and then JF> paste it in to make the pattern bigger.

JF> The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is JF> in front of to put it in your new background.

—-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption =—-
GP
Gene Palmiter
Dec 13, 2005
I tried green screen awhile ago. I didn’t have the space or enough strobes. Since the subject was too close to the screen and the background not separately lit I got green spill on the models.

Now I have more lights and should try it again. Right now I have a light beige wall and a black backdrop. One or the other is good for now. I use a cut-out routine that Russell Brown teaches (google him) that is complicated but does an excellent job.

When I create a background in PS I often pick a couple of colors in the shot…like lips and clothing…and make a blend of those….add some textures.


Thanks,
Gene Palmiter
(visit my photo gallery at http://palmiter.dotphoto.com) freebridge design group
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that are swift in running to
mischief, false witnesses that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.Proverbs 6:16-19

www.route611.com & Route 611 Magazine
"dvus" wrote in message
John Forest wrote:

It is easy to make your own digitally. Just make a new layer and set your foreground and background colors to what you want. Fill the layer with the background color. (I usually use two shades of brown.) Then just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one that you like. You can modify it some more with gradients, or by softening it with the blur filter. I have found that it often works better if I select a smaller portion of the layer, copy it and then paste it in to make the pattern bigger.
The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is in front of to put it in your new background.

He indicated he’d used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which brings up something I’ve wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether one or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait images? It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make selection of the subject easier as in the above case, but what about backdrops meant to be kept as such?


dvus
MH
Mike Hyndman
Dec 13, 2005
Time will tell if that makes it a clean selection or if I
end up with halo after halo.

Edge artefacts? Check the following link
http://studio.adobe.com/us/tips/tip.jsp?p=1&id=100675&am p;xml=phs8kbmaskplay

MH
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 14, 2005
Hello, Gene!
You wrote on Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:45:31 GMT:

Will check the Russell Brown info.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

GP> I tried green screen awhile ago. I didn’t have the space or enough GP> strobes. Since the subject was too close to the screen and the GP> background not separately lit I got green spill on the models.

GP> Now I have more lights and should try it again. Right now I have a GP> light beige wall and a black backdrop. One or the other is good for GP> now. I use a cut-out routine that Russell Brown teaches (google him) GP> that is complicated but does an excellent job.

GP> When I create a background in PS I often pick a couple of colors in the GP> shot…like lips and clothing…and make a blend of those….add some GP> textures.

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CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 14, 2005
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:50:48 -0000:

Thanks for the link. I’ve saved not only for this effort but future ones.

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

MH> Time will tell if that makes it a clean selection or if I ??>> end up with halo after halo.
MH> Edge artefacts? Check the following link
MH>
http://studio.adobe.com/us/tips/tip.jsp?p=1&id=100675&am p;xml=phs8kbmaskplay

MH> MH

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AI
anonomous individual
Dec 14, 2005
Colonel Blip wrote:
Hello, All!

Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in professional studios) pictures that are freely available?
Thanks,
Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

—-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption =—-

I hope this helps in forming the conclusion yourself that maybe a different technique might allow you to improvise with what is at hand instead of lumping around a bloody great stand and canvas.

Some times I use a "Nissan" brand remote slave on a spare speedlite behind everyday curtain material to blow the background away altogether. It just depends on the effect you wish to achieve.

If you need a white backdrop, see if you can pick up an old movie or projector screen. These have reflective surface which you can use a slave behind the subject with a gel over it to very good effect. If you need a black background, try and find a material known as "Stereo black" which works in the opposite to a projector screen.

One technique I use when the background is anything other than ideal is to crop the shot so tightly as to make the background insignificant. This picture : http://www.photosbydouglas.com/canvas/images/1boy1.jpg was shot while the subject was on a table in a kitchen. The background was a dresser full of plates and the father assembling the boy’s present. Not the ideal setting for family portraits.

Background drops are sooo 60ish 🙂 Today it is not unacceptable to frame just a face, cropping off the ears and hair for a very acceptable portrait. Of course if you intend to shoots heads for corporate identities, you need a backdrop.

This shot here: http://www.photosbydouglas.com/familys.htm uses a plain white sheet for a backdrop. Once again I used close cropping and tightly posed subjects to make whatever I used for the background totally irrelevant to the picture. You can’t see the cotton wool I used in the lower half but it too was useful.


Anonymously I post, knowing Microsoft and Google
are recording ever keystroke, every source IP and
every poster’s name for all eternity.
How big is big brother, for Christ sake?
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 14, 2005
Hello, Gene!
You wrote on Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:45:31 GMT:

I use a cut-out routine that Russell Brown teaches (google him) that is complicated

Googled and search site as well and if I found this I did not recognize it. <g> Do you know which tutorial contains this?

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

GP> I tried green screen awhile ago. I didn’t have the space or enough GP> strobes. Since the subject was too close to the screen and the GP> background not separately lit I got green spill on the models.

GP> Now I have more lights and should try it again. Right now I have a GP> light beige wall and a black backdrop. One or the other is good for GP> now. I use a cut-out routine that Russell Brown teaches (google him) GP> that is complicated but does an excellent job.

GP> When I create a background in PS I often pick a couple of colors in the GP> shot…like lips and clothing…and make a blend of those….add some GP> textures.

—-== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com – Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==—- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups —-= East and West-Coast Server Farms – Total Privacy via Encryption =—-
MH
Mike Hyndman
Dec 14, 2005
"Colonel Blip"

It could be this one, it’s 21 mg Quicktime movie download. http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/AdvancedMasking.mov

MH
CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 15, 2005
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Wed, 14 Dec 2005 16:47:32 -0000:

Thanks, in my browser as we ‘speak’.

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

MH> "Colonel Blip"

MH> It could be this one, it’s 21 mg Quicktime movie download. MH> http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/AdvancedMasking.mov

MH> MH

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CB
Colonel Blip
Dec 18, 2005
Hello, Mike!
You wrote on Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:50:48 -0000:

This is what I used as part of the cleanup and it works pretty well. I still have some artifacts I am cleaning up. I’ve tried a couple of techniques but I’ve not yet found the ‘holy grail’.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail:

MH> Time will tell if that makes it a clean selection or if I ??>> end up with halo after halo.
MH> Edge artefacts? Check the following link
MH>
http://studio.adobe.com/us/tips/tip.jsp?p=1&id=100675&am p;xml=phs8kbmaskplay

MH> MH

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