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Photography Question 

Daniel Sanderson
 

Masking...


 
 
I have taken the following product shot but I am having an heck of a time removing the blue from the background. I am using Photoshop CS2 and I have tried color range command and finally settled on manualy selection the product and feathering the selection. Who knew it would be this difficult. What am I missing?? My final image still has a blue fringing along the edges of the product.

Daniel


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February 18, 2007

 

Markus
  tweek it in curves


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February 18, 2007

 

Daniel Sanderson
  Why do I get such a spill over of blue contaminating the black pixels of this image?? Could I use a different background to help with this??

Daniel


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February 18, 2007

 

Markus
  just play w/ your RGB's


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February 18, 2007

 

W.
  "Why do I get such a spill over of blue contaminating the black pixels of this image??"

Imo, because the blue background is so close to your subject that it reflects in it.

"Could I use a different background to help with this??"

No, a green or pink background would reflect too. You need waaay more distance between subject and background.


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February 19, 2007

 

W.
  Plus I would play with big matte black cardboards on either side of the subject, just outside the Field of View, to kill any remaining reflections.


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February 19, 2007

 

W.
 
 
  How-to cut reflections
How-to cut reflections

W.

 
 
And lastly, Daniel: a longer focal length (at least double) would decrese the perspective distortion that is visible in your shot.


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February 19, 2007

 

Daniel Sanderson
 
 
 
I have 3 questions...

1. Where would you suggest I purchase the black matte boards to cut down on reflection.
2. I am using a white photo dome (see attached picture) and I was hoping to position the tripod at the opening of the photo dome and have the camera lens just inside the dome as well (to cut down on any reflections / ambient light. Does this type of photo dome have limitations to very small items??
3. I have the following 3 lens available to use; 11-22mm f2.8 wide angle, 50mm f2 1:2 macro / portrait, 50-200mm f2.8 telephoto zoom. Which would you recommend??


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February 19, 2007

 

W.
  @ 1):
in any store that sells graphical supplies for artists.

@ 2):
the dome does an excellent job diffusing the light, but it does not cut the reflections of the background. So I'd replace the dome with a) a softbox, overhead and slightly in front of the subject, and b) the black reflection killers. And light the backgound separately (evenly!).

The dome's effect on 'very small items' (assuming you mean something like a ring or a brooch) is basically the same as it is on subjects like this spraycan (which I'm assuming I'm looking at): very good - shadowless - diffusion. No specular highlights.

@ 3) I'd choose the 50-200mm at 100mm, with small apertures, like F/11.0, F/16.0, or even F/32.0.

Have fun!


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February 19, 2007

 
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