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How to Add a Colored Background to a Portrait

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How to Add a Colored Background to a Portrait

1,314,276 views October 25, 2017 11:27

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ChannelPHLEARN

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▶ Download the PDF guide for this tutorial (free with a PHLEARN account): phlearn.com/tutorial/add-colored-background-pho…

Add a colored background to any portrait in Photoshop — simulate a studio shot without a studio. The technique for cutting out your subject changes depending on how complex the original background is, and this covers both a simple case and a harder one.

CHAPTERS
00:00 What you'll be able to do
01:18 Cutting out the subject with the Magic Wand Tool
02:45 Refining the edge with Select and Mask
05:56 Adding the colored background with a New Fill Layer
06:26 Adding a vignette for realism
09:48 A complex background example using the Pen Tool

THE STEPS
1. For a simple background, rough in a selection with the Magic Wand Tool.
2. Refine that selection's edge with Select and Mask, and paint out any fringing before you finalize it.
3. Load the selection as a layer mask to cut the subject out from its original background.
4. Add a new color: Layer → New Fill Layer → Solid Color, then move that layer below your subject.
5. For realism, add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, lower lightness and saturation slightly, then use an elliptical selection and a black-filled layer mask to make that darkening visible only around the edges — a simple vignette.
6. For a complex background where the Magic Wand won't cut it cleanly, use the Pen Tool to make the selection instead, then follow the same steps from there.

Read the full step-by-step tutorial:
phlearn.com/tutorial/add-colored-background-pho…

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About this tutorial

PHLEARN published this 11:27 video tutorial on October 25, 2017. It has been watched 1,314,276 times on YouTube.

Channel
PHLEARN
Category
Education
Duration
11:27
Published
October 25, 2017
Views
1,314,276
Likes
18,520

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Further reading

  • Add a colored background to a photo [Complete Tutorial] phlearn.com

    Add a Splash of Color to the Background. Once the subject is cut out from the Background, the possibilites are endless. From here, you can add another photo as the Background of a photo, or a simple colored background t…

  • How to Add a Colored Background to a Portrait - Dailymotion dailymotion.com

    Add a Splash of Color to the Background\r Once the subject is cut out from the background, the possibilities are endless. From here, you can add another photo as the background of a photo, or a simple colored background…

  • How to add a color background to your photo - inPixio inpixio.com

    To add a gradient background, first cut out your background as above, then head to the Photomontage tab. 2. Add a gradient. Like before, click the + in the color selector to open the full color palette window. Select th…

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