Continued from the Previous Page
Finishing with Depth of Field
The trees are visually busy and distracting. By throwing them out of focus with the Lens Blur filter (available only in Photoshop CS), you can mimic the classic photographic technique of photographing portraits using a wide-open aperture to blur the background and focus attention on the people. When using the Lens Blur filter, a layer mask or alpha channel will create the most realistic results.
5. In the Depth Map Source section at the top of the Lens Blur dialog box, choose Layer 0 Mask Copy (figure 8.39). The Blur Focal Distance below this setting adjusts what is in focus and how large the orbs of light will be that you throw out of focus. In this instance, leave this setting at 0 for now.
figure 8.39 Select the alpha mask as the Depth Map.
6. Choose an Iris shape. I recommend hexagon or octagon. The other choices will seem unnatural because lenses usually don't have triangular or square blade configurations. The higher the Radius setting, the larger the aperture shape; the higher the Blade Curvature setting, the rounder the shape. Adjust these settings as desired, or as shown in figure 8.40.
figure 8.40 Choose an iris shape and radius amount.
7. The Specular Highlight settings are really where the Lens Blur magic takes place. The Brightness slider adjusts the brightness of the highlights; the Threshold slider tells Photoshop which highlight values to blur. By reducing the Threshold setting to 230, Photoshop creates aperture-shaped highlights on all brightness values above 230 and makes them as bright as the Brightness setting you choose (figure 8.41).
figure 8.41 The Specular Highlights are controlled using Brightness and Threshold settings.
8. For the Noise settings, I recommend adding a hint of Monochromatic Gaussian Noise with a setting of 2 to avoid the overly smooth computer-blurred look. But all in all, how you use these sliders is really up to you and the effect you are trying to achieve. When you are finished, click OK and let Photoshop process the magic to create the image (figure 8.42).
figure 8.42 The final image with a new background is perfect for framing and display.
9. To retouch any obvious edges, you have two choices: To clone over any visible edges, you can add a new layer above the woman and child layer, select the Clone tool, and select Use All Layers in the Options bar. To soften harsh transitions, you can refine the layer mask with the painting and blurring tools.
Making the mask, adding the new background, and refining the edges require patience and a caring eye. But when you see the look on your client's faces or family's surprise when you show them the new portraits, all the work is well worth it.
[END TUTORIAL]
Fred says: "No one will ever suspect that this spectacular image began as a candid shot in front of the family SVU. Katrin's attention to the most minute detail renders even the finest wisps of hair over the new background. If you followed each step, and understand the principles as Katrin outlines them, you should be able to deploy this technique again and again.
Our special thanks go out to Katrin Eismann and Peachpit Books for sharing this tutorial. If you think you've seen it all, forget it -- you ain't seen nothin' until you visit Katrin's PhotoshopDiva.com web site featuring a knock-out gallery and a special collection of special articles in PDF format.
If you really want to kick some Photoshop butt, keep reading and buy...
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Katrin Eismann is an internationally respected teacher and lecturer on photographic imaging, restoration, retouching, and the impact of emerging technologies on photography and the arts. Katrin received an undergraduate degree in photographic illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and her Master of Fine Arts degree in design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her other books include Photoshop Masking & Compositing and Real World Digital Photography.
In 2005, she was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. She is the author of Photoshop Restoration and Retouching 2nd Edition (Below), and is the co-author of Real World Digital Photography 2nd Edition (Peachpit Press).
Photoshop Restoration & Retouching
Whether you're a professional photographer or the family shutterbug, you can't afford to miss the third edition of the now classic Photoshop Restoration & Retouching. Katrin Eismann and co-author Wayne Palmer have reviewed, updated, and revised every single technique to address the most important features in Adobe Photoshop CS2. Whether you're a professional photographer or the family shutterbug, you can't afford to miss the third edition of the now classic Photoshop Restoration & Retouching. Clear step-by-step instructions using professional examples highlight the tools and techniques photographers, designers, restoration studios, and beauty retouchers use to restore valuable antique images, retouch portraits, and enhance glamour photography.
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