topic Re: Deleting an object in the background? in General Discussion

Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:20:45 GMT

I took several photos of my grandson and his hyper-hound for a magazine article. However, the return air grate is behind his head! Other positions and backrounds were not conducive for this "theme" of the article,"How to watch an outdoor video." Your help is, as always, most appreciated. This is the worst of several photos but wanted to use it to illlustrate the problem and as an example of what to do. BTW, have the photos in jpg and RAW. This is the jpg; not sure if the RAW would show up.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

rs-eos — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:35:02 GMT

Use Photoshop; lot's of free tutorials on that online.

What I'd personally do is use the patch tool and sample from the wall just above it. Then, fine-tune the detail areas.

Havind said that, have you explored all possible angles? Or, cover the vent with some non-wrinkled brown paper? It would be much easier to work with that that versus the vent in post-production.

Or... use a shallower depth of field. Though for this particular situation, I don't think that'd do very much.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Mon, 10 May 2021 19:00:27 GMT

After I posted this,I thought of a tapestry of some sort. DPP4 has a tutorial on cropping but it only focuses on a small area of the photo. Also, seen some that take the central part and impose it on a different background. Will see what I can come up with. es-eos, thanks for the reply and tips.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

wq9nsc — Mon, 10 May 2021 22:22:24 GMT

The stamp tool in DPP could be used but it would be painfully slow since you have to work with the irregular area around the subject's hairline. Photoshop is a much better choice for this with its intelligent selection tools.

I definitely prefer taking care of stuff like this prior to capture when possible but when it isn't, then Photoshop is the answer.

Shooting primarily sports, I don't use those types of Photoshop tools often and DPP is all I need for the great majority of images. But Photoshop is like four wheel drive on my pickup, when you need it you REALLY need it and the Adobe creative cloud subscription is quite reasonable.

Rodger

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Ray-uk — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:49:52 GMT

Almost every editing tool has a patch or clone tool where you copy a patch from the surrounding wall and paste it over the grill.

Here is a very quick and dirty attempt just show the possibiliies.

To my mind the grill is the least offending part of this picture, I don't like the half a dog and the sitters hand that seems to disappear up the dogs backside.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Tue, 11 May 2021 12:22:00 GMT

1. I didn't realize how the grill was blatant until I downloaded the photos. Hindsight is 20/20.

2. I chose this photo for experimenting with editing. It would be the #1 candidate for deleting after I figured out to edit, if it happens. I think I'll go back and see where the background would be better or cover the grill momentarily for the shoot.

Thanks.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 11 May 2021 16:36:30 GMT

"Photoshop is a much better choice for this with its intelligent selection tools."

PS is just not a better choice it is the only choice if you want top notch work. Plus you need to learn how to work non-destructively. Simple use of the clone stamp is a destructive tool. A person in my line of work deals with backgrounds all the time. Some of the time you can not control what is behind your subject.

A good understand on how to use layers and masks in PS is mandatory. This is a non-destructive way of post editing. You can always undo whatever you did. The original photo is always there.

I just got through with Senior Posters for 2021. Senior posters is a big thing right now and learning PS greatly enhances my time management. However, its basics is good for most any project. Here is a sample of my BG with layers and masks that stay as they are through the entire shoot. Al I need do is insert the student Senior in a new layer.

Notice all the layers are on the right side. Each is non-destructive and can either be displayed or hidden. What I am trying to get across in a somewhat lengthly way is, in any photo you edit make use of layer and masks. Yours may not be as complicated as this example but it is a "best practice" to get used to. Perhaps you will only need one or two layers but I hope you get my point.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Wed, 12 May 2021 12:57:24 GMT

ebiggs1 and others, I'm understanding that PS has more editing capabilities than DPP4. I looked and PS is what I would describe as an investment. Would it pay to keep DPP4 or delete it and go 100% with PS? I realize that there are those on here that make a living with photography and necessary editing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

rs-eos — Wed, 12 May 2021 13:24:34 GMT

While I personally don't use DPP4, it's free so I would keep it. And it should be useful to make basic edits.

Personally I use the Photography plan from Adobe. Around 10 USD per month for both Lightroom and Photoshop. I use Lightroom to organize/catalog/keyword all my photos and to do basic edits. And then Photoshop for more complex edits.

Photoshop is definitely an investment, but IMO a very sound one. I started with Photoshop 3. Prior to photography, I used to it create user-interface elements for my software, artwork for DVD menus (Photoshop had a nice non-square pixel workflow) and numerous other tasks.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Fri, 14 May 2021 20:33:17 GMT

Ricky, thanks for your reply. Curious why you use LR for organizing and PS for complex edits as you state. Doesn't PS have organizing capabilities or is it imited as opposed to LR?

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

kvbarkley — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:36:28 GMT

PhotoShop Elements does all of this for much cheaper.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:43:11 GMT

"Would it pay to keep DPP4 or delete it and go 100% with PS?"

I have DPP4 on my computer but basically just to see if Canon has finally turned it in to a real full post editor. So far they have not seen fit to do so. Photoshop is the industry standard not only in raster graphics editing, but in digital art, too. There is no second place.

If you are an amateur or even advanced enthusiasts DPP4 is probably the way to go simply because it is free and does 80% of what most people want. If on the other hand you are a full time photographer or even wanting to be in the photography business you need PS and LR.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

rs-eos — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:41:56 GMT

Photoshop doesn't have any organization features. I guess it does come with Bridge which does, but I never liked Bridge so just use Lightroom.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:52:22 GMT

"Photoshop doesn't have any organization features. I guess it does come with Bridge which does..."

The PS combo along with Bridge do exactly the same operations and features as LR and PS does together. How they go about handling the job at hand and your procedures is quite different. If you are simply looking for software that will alter and/or tweak or otherwise enhance your photographs, either one will work.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:54:49 GMT

PhotoShop Elements does ~~all~~ "most" of this for much cheaper. And, for most folks it is the way to go, I agree.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Wed, 12 May 2021 21:38:35 GMT

My photos are submitted along with magazine articles so good editing is a must. Also, want to sell photos to the publications. I'm sure there is a lot of competition for them but cover photos and archived photos can bring some big bucks. Any advice here is most welcome.

Will look at all suggestions given here.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:11:34 GMT

I have a question. Just curious but have you ever done any of this kind of work before? I can tell you from years of experience it is very difficult to break in to.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Thu, 13 May 2021 17:04:39 GMT

ebiggs1, writing and photography for a bit over three years- magazines, online TV news, online magazines. Made some good connections at the beginning. Joining two outdoor writing organizations opened a lot of doors. As the late Paul Harvey would say, "Now you know the rest of the story." Got three baking in the oven right now. One story is based on the crappy photo I attached. The other photos are much better but have the grill in the background. As mentioned, need to go back and get a better background.

It is difficult to break into the big magazines as Outdoor Life, etc. I would rather write for smaller publications and get paid than be ignored by the big publications and not get paid.

Which leads to the 64 cent question- I did some searching and it seems that PS Elements must be purchased at a retailer as Staples. A download asked for a serial number so that must be on the box or disk. I can download free for a trail but then the price kicks in. Seems it is about $100+ for the software. Advice here????? Thanks two bunches!

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 13 May 2021 17:20:41 GMT

Sounds like you are on the road. Yes, PSE is a purchase only software and it is in the $100 buck range. You can buy it from several sources. It is a somewhat crippled version of PS. But it is usually enough for most folks and applications. PS and LR on the other hand are subscription based products. They run $10 per month but you can stop any time you please. They are the industry standards.

DPP4 is free form Canon. It has a much more limited editing ability than PS does. Gimpshop is an open source software and is also free. Gimp is somewhat like PS but to me is much more difficult to master. Perhaps because I have been with PS since it started. Keep in mind the more any software package does the more difficult to learn and the longer the learning curve will be.

Re: Deleting an object in the background?

Tintype_18 — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:21:55 GMT

EB, are PS and LR separate or as a package? May save some search time.