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1. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
Tai Lao Sep 23, 2011 11:09 PM (in response to emilycornfield) -
2. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
emilycornfield Sep 24, 2011 7:00 AM (in response to Tai Lao)Thanks for the above, but I also need the shadow to be "transparent" as I am placing it over another object and want the shadow to fall on it...how would I do that?
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3. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
c.pfaffenbichler Sep 24, 2011 9:24 AM (in response to emilycornfield)If you want to do it properly (or what I consider that to be at least) you could
• duplicate the image and group it, set the group’s blend moder to Multiply or Normal
• decontaminate it by removing the object’s edges (image 1)
• use a Curves Layer to pull the light grey regions to white (image 2)
(here you could stop editing the shadow if you use Multiply, but sometimes that is not the best course of action)
• use the Blend If settings (split the handle by alt-click-dragging it) to make white transparent (image 3)
• create an Adjustment Layer that makes everything black in the Group (image 4)
• mask the object above this group – it should also be decontaminated to avoid whitish fringes
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4. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
emilycornfield Sep 24, 2011 3:51 PM (in response to c.pfaffenbichler)Thanks for your help but I had a hard time following this, I am not that advanced a user. I was able to get the entire background of the image removed through MaskPro, but I still need to put back in a transparent cast shadow as seen in the original post. If someone can help me with that I can put the two together and I'd have what I need. Attached is the image dropped out of the background, but still needing the cast shadow.
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5. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
c.pfaffenbichler Sep 25, 2011 1:09 AM (in response to emilycornfield)You might have gotten a better result by simply using the Pen Tool or by working on the the a and b channels from a Lab Color-copy.
I’ll try again:
• create a copy of the image and remove the object by clone stamping, painting, using the inverted selection of the object with Refine Edge set to Decontaminate, whatever …
• use a Curves or Levels Adjustment to get the background to white
• set to Multiply
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6. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
Tai Lao Sep 25, 2011 2:03 AM (in response to emilycornfield)Sorry, in my post I tried to present only the very first step in the procedure, and I specifically said so. I thought you had a basic understanding of how to use Photoshop.
Google Photoshop Classroom in a Book.
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7. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
c.pfaffenbichler Sep 25, 2011 2:41 AM (in response to c.pfaffenbichler)As to why I keep recommending removing the object from the shadow:
Even with a fairly decent clipping of the object (image 1) using the whole brightened image for a shadow (image 2) is likely to cause noticable fringes (image 3).
Apart from that: Is the image a stock-image or do you have access to the person who created the 3D-rendering?
If so they are likely able to simply render the object and the shadow as two layers layers.
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8. Re: Need help dropping out background but keeping shadow
DanClarkwcp Sep 25, 2011 9:25 AM (in response to c.pfaffenbichler)Could you show us the photo/image you want to use in the background? Also, can you take a screen shot of your layers palette of your file after your MaskPro work?








