| » Forum Index » Problems and solutions » Topic: Selecting hair |
|
Posted on 22/11/05 12:07:29 PM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Selecting hair
I recently took a picture of a cu-ute brunette with flash and it came out with a nopticeable shadow so there is not much tone difference between her hair and the shadowed area. Is there a technique for selecting hair in this kind of situation? Thanks. |
Posted on 22/11/05 12:56:42 PM |
|
Paul McFadden
Dream Decryptor Posts: 138 Reply  |
Re: Selecting hair
Hi Jamshid Why dont you post it, so we can have a look .. _________________ |
Posted on 22/11/05 4:28:44 PM |
|
Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
Re: Selecting hair
It's a tricky one - it really depends on how much difference there is between the hair and the background. As Paul says, post it here and we'll see what we can suggest! |
Posted on 22/11/05 4:55:14 PM |
|
maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Re: Selecting hair
There is a method of creating a hair selection based upon the most contrasty Channel. Firstly check just how much hidden detail there actually is by creating a Levels Adjustment Layer above your picture, However, don't alter the Levels simply switch the Adjustment Layer's Blending Mode to 'Screen' - this instantly, and non-destructively, increases the brightness of the image and you should then be able to see if there is a noticeable definition between the shadow and the hair. You can delete the adjustment layer afterwards. If you then click on the Channels tab and find out which is the most contrasty Channel for this image and make a copy of it, then on the Menu Bar select Image/Apply Image... and select either Overlay or Screen to increase the contrast between the hair and the background. You might need to use Apply Image a couple of times to bump up the contrast, use your own discretion. Then you will need to use the paintbrush to paint set to black to fill in any white/gray bits below the hair if the hair is black or dark colour, white if the hair is light. This method will help in creating a fairly accurate hair mask which you can make a selection of and apply to your image's mask. Hope that helps _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 23/11/05 10:04:01 AM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Thanks all for your interest. But how do I upload a picture here? |
Posted on 23/11/05 10:12:04 AM |
|
trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
On the left hand side of the message box is an attachment link. Click that and a browse field will appear. Uploads are limited to 100k and try to keep the actual dimensions of the image small, around 500-600 pixels on the longest edge. _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 23/11/05 11:35:11 AM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Ok. Here's lovely Vika. I have cropped out the naughty bits so everyone feels convenient. I am just using this one as a self-training material for two rather psychological reasons: (a) it is quite a challenging task for me to make a decent picture out of it, and (b) I have warmest feelings for her so it adds to my interest. My first problem here is selecting her hair on the left from the shadowed wall so I can put her in a different background. I will then think of cleaning up the face -- removing some hair and correcting the skin tones, but let's concentrate on the hair now. I have tried to apply several techniques and all have led to the edges of the hair looking totally unnatural. Any ideas? |
Posted on 23/11/05 11:41:27 AM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Sorry, here is the attachment.  |
Posted on 23/11/05 12:02:36 PM |
|
trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
A very quick (and a bit sloppy) demonstration of Steve's technique from the book. Use the pen or lasso to select her outline. Then use the smudge brush set to spatter. Drag out wisps of hair, following the natural direction.  _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 23/11/05 12:15:11 PM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Sloppy, exactly. I am talking of a really natural look of the hair. I could not get that using this technique, to be frank. In the original picture you can actually see separate hairs along the edges, that is what I am talking about. Sorry I couldn't show that much detail within 100kb limit. |
Posted on 23/11/05 12:39:58 PM |
|
trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Your best bet is to use the technique described by Maiden, in that case. Steve's book is all about achieving results quickly and effectively, sometimes this is at the expense of absolute realism but then, it depends how tight your deadlines are!  _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 23/11/05 12:46:44 PM |
|
maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Firstly, Jamshid, it's quite rude to agree with David's attempt being "sloppy" he has simply applied one of Steve's techniques for wind-swept hair. However, as you're looking for more exact hair masking technique here's my attempt using the method I described above. 
_________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 23/11/05 1:10:42 PM |
|
Jamshid
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Oh... I am extremely sorry if my agreement sounds rude. That's perhaps because of my poor English (it is not even my second language). And thank you David and Maiden for your contributions. I will try this technique tonight on the original picture. |
Posted on 23/11/05 1:14:29 PM |
|
trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
No offence taken, Jamshid. My image really was a quick demonstration (about 5 miinutes). Neither mine or Maiden's can show the true effect because of the very low resolution. Give it a try and post your results back here, it will be interesting to see what you've achieved. _________________ A happy-go-lucky chap, always dressed in black |
Posted on 23/11/05 2:17:09 PM |
|
mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply  |
Re: Selecting hair
I think my method is similar to maiden's. Find the channel with the most contrast, duplicate that channel, with painting, burning and dodging make that channel all B & W. Load that channel onto the RGB version to create a selection and knock out the background.  |
Posted on 23/11/05 2:21:35 PM |
|
maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
Yep, same principle mguyer. The duplicate a contrasty Channel/Apply Image... method is outlined in Martin Evening's "Adobe Photoshop CS for Photographers" now in it's CS2 version. Probably the best technique I've come across for this usually tricky situation although he does it far better than I could. _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 23/11/05 3:02:37 PM |
|
mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
There is also an entire book by Katrin Eisseman (sp?) titled PHOTOSHOP MASKING that outlines this technique as well as others to be used depending on the nature of the particular picture that has many helpful selection techniques. With careful burning and dodging you can even isolate individual hairs. |
Posted on 23/11/05 3:04:06 PM |
|
mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
There is also an entire book by Katrin Eisseman (sp?) titled PHOTOSHOP MASKING that outlines this technique as well as others to be used depending on the nature of the particular picture that has many helpful selection techniques. With careful burning and dodging you can even isolate individual hairs. |
Posted on 23/11/05 3:16:56 PM |
|
mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply |
Re: Selecting hair
the situation can get really complicated if there are two heads to isolate, one with dark hair and one with light hair. Then one has to do it with two separate selections. |
Posted on 23/11/05 3:54:43 PM |
|
Glen
Montage Maestro Posts: 282 Reply  |
Re: Selecting hair
Hey Jamshid, you might even get an apology yourself for being spoken to so abruptly. My hat is off to anyone who communicates to others in a language other than their own. Good luck in your masking, remember there's more than one way to reach a solution, some are better, i.e. quicker than others, and some are more time consuming if you want a more realistic solution. Dont be put off by someone elses domineering single mindedness. _________________ most of the lack of sunshine in our lives is caused by us standing in our own shadow |
| page: 1 2 last |