Advice Please

[Seachelle]

Hello All, I am trying to do great things with this photo and would love some advice on how to make my little girl not look like a stick on but a real fairy.

Thank you.

Chelle

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1jtw2CFj7cB860itw3rdhAVi5oa1j1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1jtw2CFj7cB860itw3rdhAVi5oa1j1)

[frank abramonte]

The easiest and fastest way, without re-doing the entire photo is to use the smudge tool at about 35-40% strength and a small brush size (check several sizes to see which will give your the best result. If you wish you can also check several strengths). Drag the smudge tool around the entire edge of the girl to soften the transition between her and the background.

This attached correction took me less than one minute. With a little more time and effort you can achieve better results.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/17aau2wy6dL0t2rFaYpx894dO1Mwt1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=17aau2wy6dL0t2rFaYpx894dO1Mwt1)

[GaryK]

Chelle

Assuming she is on her own layer you could also apply a bit of diffused glow or maybe a slight outer glow to make her look a bit etheral.:)

[emkayess65]

Hi, Seachelle,
great kid, great picture and composition.
I took the liberty of playing with it.
I cut her out and put her on her own layer
and ran a levels on it lighten up her face some.
I also applied a drop shadow to her.
I also cut out the wings and put a dropshadow
and bevel on them.
Those I had to simplify to erase some shadows
where they shouldn't be.
Basicly I think what the picture needs is some depth
and dimension.
The wings are pretty but flat.
My 2 pennys worth.
HTH
mks

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1WlPqQIeJJWCrr4LWfzhElXTpxSZI_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1WlPqQIeJJWCrr4LWfzhElXTpxSZI)

[Seachelle]

Thank you for all of your input. I managed to use a little of every bodies advice and here is what I have come up with. Thank you all so much.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1pBv1w6G7mGCnITwexCeXSjNN6dT5O1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1pBv1w6G7mGCnITwexCeXSjNN6dT5O1)

[frank abramonte]

Seachelle:

You used the smudge tool and smudged the white, therefore giving you a white outline around the subject, is that what you wanted?
What you should do is smudge the subjects color. For the sweater you would smudge the brown. The pants: smudge the pink. The legs: the flesh color. Keep your smudge tool in the color area you want to smudge and smudge outward. You can always correct by either deleting the last smudge or smudge the background back into the subject (the girl).
Here's a corrected version where I scaled down the protruding foot and lightened the girl.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1qfDDCuYryrQFQS7HGwSZi0iKYNfV_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1qfDDCuYryrQFQS7HGwSZi0iKYNfV)