help please

[sydneysnana]

Sorry my title was so uninformative. My brain is a little slow playing with my parents 50th ann. book, and my most adorable new grand-daughters pictures, then ok wanta good laugh the 7 am mamagram appt., 8 am blood draw!!!!!! Maybe I am trying to do too much here....

Anyways, I removed Mom from the background but I don't know how to remove the background seen through her veil???

Thanks for taking mercy on me as usual.
Michelle

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15ZG5Ki3awi1iUwxeuzECjI4lmSQNY1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15ZG5Ki3awi1iUwxeuzECjI4lmSQNY1)

[Daviskw]

Hi Michelle

You will need to add a mask above a new background as in my example below.

I made the first selection of the whole bride including the veil.

I inserted the selection in my attached mask.

Then I made another selection of just the veil being careful not to select over the arms or skin.

Your picture was already B&W so I just copied this selection of the veil to the clipboard.

With the selection still active I alt clicked on the mask…. Then pasted the veil into the mask….the darker the gray of the veil the more the new sky background will show thru. If it does not let enough background show just use a levels adjustment to darken the gray more.

I have included an example with layers so you can see how I set it up. I also included a picture of the mask I used in the layer mask.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1eb7wTJxBNKOFzU7BCA52M8JDS23ud_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1eb7wTJxBNKOFzU7BCA52M8JDS23ud)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1yNy6B8OVthJfAZIkijmxj0S9iF14_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1yNy6B8OVthJfAZIkijmxj0S9iF14)

Butch

[Rusty]

Butch,
I am absolutely dumbstruck!

Rusty

[Daviskw]

Thanks Rusty

I'm afraid using a mask is the only way I know to make the veil transparent I just hope it helps.

Butch

[Juergen D]

Great job, Butch! Mine is possibly a bit easier to duplicate. I only used white painting (soft brush, about 40%) to blend the veil with the rest of the dress. This was done on a separate layer, so the opacity can be varied some more, if necessary.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1mWGT7VPvq2dZPbqVYp74w7hLOTzxV_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1mWGT7VPvq2dZPbqVYp74w7hLOTzxV)

[Tom K]

Super, Super retouch Butch..........Tom :D

[sydneysnana]

WOW!!!!!!!! Someday.......... but until then I'm so glad you guys are here.:D;)

I will work on what you have given me when I am fresher. Dave, how do you not only answer my question but color it and make it so great???? I only wish.... that would have taken me days and then not looked so good.

I'm sure I'll have more questions when I get going again on this!!
Michelle:confused:

[Vesta]

I am stampering aroung here trying to find the words to describe the work that you guys do.

Butch, that is so absolutely so creative and it means so much to me to be able to say I understand what you did.:D And you too, Juergen, I wouldn't have been able to say that a year ago.
So you see Michelle, this is the place for learning.

Thank you guys for teaching so many wonderful lessons and doing it with such a gracious heart.

Vesta

[JulieM]

Michelle: What a wonderful picture of your mom! She looks so very happy! I can not believe what a wonderful job Butch and Juergen have done on it. Good luck in the a.m. with your medical procedures...

[Kathy]

Butch ......

Absolutely, positively amazing !!!!

Kathy

[nkeevers]

Butch, Juergen, you amaze me! They both look perfect! Each technique is great depending on how you want to go about it!

[sydneysnana]

Butch,
I've started working on your method first. I have gotten this far:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1G5Dd8jB20SfJI2xb8zVTp5eLJL6N50_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1G5Dd8jB20SfJI2xb8zVTp5eLJL6N50)

Not sure if I understand what the thought is to get here, I just followed your instructions.

Looking at your exsample layers in your post, you colored the skin and hair. What are those layers? They are'nt just a blank layer with color. Were those Gradient maps to start with?????:confused:

This is great. Thanks
Michelle

[Daviskw]

Look very good Michelle!!!

The layers for skin and hair are gradient map adjustment layers set to the color mode.

Using gradient masks allows you to use more than one color for the face or hair...But they are not necessary most of the time or in your picture I think. You can just as easily open a blank layer and change the layer mode to color. Then choose a flesh color or hair color and paint them in. If the color does not look right then you can group a hue/saturation adjustment layer and make final adjustments.

Butch

[sydneysnana]

Thanks, that will be my next step to play with. You know what is amazing is that you had chosen her correct colors!!!!
Michelle

[cats4jan]

I know it's all been said - but I, too, am awestruck at the quality of the retourching you guys do. That bridal photo will look so natural on whatever background is chosen. Excellent, excellent work.