High Key Backdrops: How to Get a White Backdrop Using Photoshop Actions
March 12, 2010 | 9 Comments |Add a comment
This Photoshop Actions Blueprint was sent in from Karen of Smile-Play-Love Photography. Thank for you sharing how you edit your photos with all of us.
- Ran MCP’s Studio White Bright Spell. This Photoshop action from the Bag of Tricks set turns light white and grayish backdrops into high key white backdrops. I used this at about 80% to get a bright white backdrop, often referred to as High Key White (I use a white backdrop and natural light for most of my portrait photography work so I LOVE THIS ACTION and use it on every single photo!)
- Ran Portraiture at default settings at 100% opacity
- Did a “Defog” unsharp mask (14-40-0)
- Used MCP’s “Eye Doctor” Photoshop action: catchlights layer and sharpen eyes layer at default settings
- Used MCP’s Powder Your Nose photoshop action from “Magic Skin” at default opacity – brushed on skin under eyes, across forehead, cheeks and chin (I use this on every photo I edit as it helps with under eye circles, blemishes, scars, wrinkles, and even double chins without looking unnatural)
- I did a curves layer with a very slight s-curve set to luminosty and then another curves layer lifting the midtones slightly
- I used MCP’s Free Photoshop action Touch of Light at about 30% on the slight shadow her right side of face and MCP’s Touch of Dark at about 20% on her hair on her left side of head as it was a bit too bright
- My final step to present proofs to my clients is to brand it with my logo. I set up a ‘branding bar’ to match all of my new stationary about 2 weeks before MCP’s new “Finish It” action set came out. I wish I would have waited, as it would have saved me a lot of time and headache! Jodi inspired me to add some curved corners. I run this final step as an action that allows me to save it both for web (sharpening and resizing) and for print (as a 4×6 and sharpened for printing) since a number of my clients like to order a proof album rather than just view their photos online.
That is my process for every photo I edit. I have combined all of these steps into a big batch action that I run on every photo. MCP Actions seriously changed the way I post-process, and helped me turn my photography from a hobby into a business. Thanks Jodi!
Karen Gunton
Here is before editing and getting a high key white backdrop:
Here is after editing – shown with the high key white backdrop and tones:
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thanks jodi. you are such an inspiration to me, i can’t tell you what a thrill it is to see one of my portraits posted on your blog! thanks for everything you do to help photographers. =)
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Thanks so much Karen. All is quiet here – but check out all the comments you got on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/mcpfans
I love the white backdrop! Does anyone know how this can be done in elements! Great job Karen!
gaye, i can’t remember if elements has layer masks? before i had mcp’s really fantastic bright white spell action i used to make a curves layer to really brighten the white backdrop and then just ‘erase’ over the person in the photo. i know jodi has some good explanations here somewhere about layer masks (which is how i learnt about them!)
[...] High Key White Backdrops: Using Photoshop Actions to Help [...]
I am photographing jewelry that needs to have a completely white background but even with my lighting, it’s hard to get a really white background. What would you recommend for me?
Thank you. Dail