Is it possible to alter the background of a photo?
Discussion
I basically have a large image of my old car. I want to get it printed to a reasonably large scale & then framed.
Only problem is the background of the picture is horrible & I don't have any others.
Here is the picture:
Does anyone have any ideas?
Can the background be changed without while keeping the photo looking real?
Or in worst case, anyone know of somewhere I can e-mail the file & they can print me a large version.
Many thanks
Phil
Only problem is the background of the picture is horrible & I don't have any others.
Here is the picture:
Does anyone have any ideas?
Can the background be changed without while keeping the photo looking real?
Or in worst case, anyone know of somewhere I can e-mail the file & they can print me a large version.
Many thanks
Phil
Yep the background could be changed in photoshop, as long as it is the right background you could make it look pretty convincing.
In fact if you want I'll do it for you, do you have another background in mind that you want to use?
Email me through my profile if you are interested and we'll sort something out.
In fact if you want I'll do it for you, do you have another background in mind that you want to use?
Email me through my profile if you are interested and we'll sort something out.
You can also using Photo/Paint Shop blur the background to give an out of focus effect whilst keeping the item of interest in focus. The trick is to use the layers feature in the package.
The way I would do it is as follows.
Take the original image and copy it as a new layer. So in theory you have two identical images on top of each other. Then select the top image from the layers list/menu and apply a blurring effect (Gaussian Blur is good). Then using the eraser tool, erase the bit you want to make sharply focused. What you are actually doing is erasing the blurred image you made and causing the unaltered image below to show through.
It is a neat trick and takes a bit of practice to get right. It is a common trick for cover shots on magazines to improve the original picture, usually a person.
David
The way I would do it is as follows.
Take the original image and copy it as a new layer. So in theory you have two identical images on top of each other. Then select the top image from the layers list/menu and apply a blurring effect (Gaussian Blur is good). Then using the eraser tool, erase the bit you want to make sharply focused. What you are actually doing is erasing the blurred image you made and causing the unaltered image below to show through.
It is a neat trick and takes a bit of practice to get right. It is a common trick for cover shots on magazines to improve the original picture, usually a person.
David
david010167 said:
You can also using Photo/Paint Shop blur the background to give an out of focus effect whilst keeping the item of interest in focus. The trick is to use the layers feature in the package.
The way I would do it is as follows.
Take the original image and copy it as a new layer. So in theory you have two identical images on top of each other. Then select the top image from the layers list/menu and apply a blurring effect (Gaussian Blur is good). Then using the eraser tool, erase the bit you want to make sharply focused. What you are actually doing is erasing the blurred image you made and causing the unaltered image below to show through.
It is a neat trick and takes a bit of practice to get right. It is a common trick for cover shots on magazines to improve the original picture, usually a person.
David
A quickie to illustrate David's point:
That was a 5-minute job. Obviously if I took longer, it would turn out better
ErnestM
Ive just done a quick job on your photo, did four seperate layers so there is a gradation in the amount of blur relating to the distance from camera. It's pretty easy to do, I will have a go on your big file if you want, or give you a hand if you want to do it yourself.
Once you have the layers done it is also easy to vary the amount of blur, so you can play with it until you get the effect that you are most happy with. Here is a link to the photoshop file, complete with layers, if you want to have a go.
www.pr-motorsport.org/PH/mcoupe.psd
Edited to say - oops, didn't realise it had already been dealt with!
>> Edited by dcw@pr on Monday 22 March 20:52
Once you have the layers done it is also easy to vary the amount of blur, so you can play with it until you get the effect that you are most happy with. Here is a link to the photoshop file, complete with layers, if you want to have a go.
www.pr-motorsport.org/PH/mcoupe.psd
Edited to say - oops, didn't realise it had already been dealt with!
>> Edited by dcw@pr on Monday 22 March 20:52
... 
simpo two said:
Mrs Fish said:
That makes it look like a remote control car
How true. But who knows why? Answers on a postcard!
(NB A natural one-step way to get a soft background is to shoot with a long lens and big aperture)
It appears to be photographed with a makro lens, which normally don't have that much depth of focus.
Even with a big aperture, there would be more depth of field in real world photography
>> Edited to correct language
>> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 23 March 12:37
LexSport said:
Sorry, forgot about the thread
Lisa
Many thanks, the pics are brilliant.
YHM
Phil
Come on then Phil, share the results...
Here we go, the results
I'll remember to take my photo's in more exotic places than the UCI carpark from now on
Mrs Fish I believe I owe you some drinks
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