Hello, All!

Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in
professional studios) pictures that are freely available?

Thanks,
Colonel Blip.
E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com



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this is a place I found to be good

http://www.owens-originals.com/cdro...-cd-rom%20.html

http://www.photochimper.com

Colonel Blip wrote:
> Hello, All!
>
> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in
> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?
>
> Thanks,
> Colonel Blip.
> E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com
>
>
>
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News==----
> http://www.codecomments.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000
+ Newsgroups
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]

I royally messed up on this question. What I meant was backdrop digital
picture files that can be used in photoshop to take the place of the
background in an existing portrait. I've taken some family pictures with a
burgandy sheet background that will allow me to remove the background
"cleanly" and now I need to replace it with a different background.

The way I wrote the original note I can see that it may appear I wanted a
physical screen like portrait photographers use.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com

CB> Hello, All!

CB> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in
CB> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?

CB> Thanks,
CB> Colonel Blip.
CB> E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com

CB> ----== Posted via codecomments.com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usene
t
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CB> World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
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There is someone...or someones...selling them on Ebay all the time.

--
Thanks,
Gene Palmiter
(visit my photo gallery at http://palmiter.dotphoto.com)
freebridge design group
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that are swift in running to
mischief, false witnesses that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.Proverbs 6:16-19

www.route611.com & Route 611 Magazine
"Colonel Blip" <colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:1134356283_85703@spool6-east.superfeed.net...
>I royally messed up on this question. What I meant was backdrop digital
>picture files that can be used in photoshop to take the place of the
>background in an existing portrait. I've taken some family pictures with a
>burgandy sheet background that will allow me to remove the background
>"cleanly" and now I need to replace it with a different background.
>
> The way I wrote the original note I can see that it may appear I wanted a
> physical screen like portrait photographers use.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Colonel Blip.
> E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com
>
> CB> Hello, All!
>
> CB> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in
> CB> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?
>
> CB> Thanks,
> CB> Colonel Blip.
> CB> E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com
>
> CB> ----== Posted via codecomments.com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Use
net
> CB> News==---- http://www.codecomments.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the
> CB> World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
> CB> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> CB> =----
>
>
>
> ----== Posted via codecomments.com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
> News==----
> http://www.codecomments.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000
+
> Newsgroups
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> =----

"Colonel Blip" <colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:1134335486_85311@spool6-east.superfeed.net...

> Anyone aware of decent portrait photo backdrop screen (like used in
> professional studios) pictures that are freely available?

Another way is to simply create a fill layer in PS then apply some filters
to it (eg grain / water colour etc) - it's possibleto come up with some
really nice combinations that you can easily tweak.

It is easy to make your own digitally.  Just make a new layer and set your
foreground and background colors to what you want.  Fill the layer with the
background color.  (I usually use two shades of brown.)  Then just go to
<filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one that you like.
You can modify it some more with gradients, or by softening it with the blur
filter.  I have found that it often works better if I select a smaller
portion of the layer, copy it and then paste it in to make the pattern
bigger.

The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is in
front of to put it in your new background.

John Forest wrote:

> It is easy to make your own digitally.  Just make a new layer and set
> your foreground and background colors to what you want.  Fill the
> layer with the background color.  (I usually use two shades of
> brown.)  Then just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking
> until you see one that you like. You can modify it some more with
> gradients, or by softening it with the blur filter.  I have found
> that it often works better if I select a smaller portion of the
> layer, copy it and then paste it in to make the pattern bigger.
>
> The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is
> in front of to put it in your new background.

He indicated he'd used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which
brings up something I've wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether one
or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait images?
It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make selection of the
subject easier as in the above case, but what about backdrops meant to be
kept as such?

--
dvus

>
> He indicated he'd used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which
> brings up something I've wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether
> one or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait
> images? It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make
> selection of the subject easier as in the above case, but what about
> backdrops meant to be kept as such?
Dvus,

A good portrait is just that, a good portrait. Having a nice background
won't make a bad or mediocre portrait any better, but an unsuitable one
(easy to fix with PS ;-))will detract from a good portrait. It is very
subjective. The best way to learn about them is to look at portraits, then
ask yourself what you like or dislike about the picture. Is it the pose;the
subject; the tonal range, that appeals or not? The background normally
provides isolation for the portrait either by muted colours (if indeed it is
a colour shot)or through selective focussing. Again though, this is not set
in stone. If you wanted to portray your sitter in a particular environment
etc., say an artist in a studio or someone at work or involved in a
particular sport or hobby, you could set them against, in front of, things
the viewer would expect to see them surrounded by. (A bit like reportage
work) It all boils down to what you want your picture to say and what
characteristics or personality traits you want to reveal in your sitter.
With PS, changing backgrounds, once the subject has been isolated is as
simple as a couple of clicks (as you are probably aware). As to what colour
background for easier isolations I tend to use a white one for all my
subjects. I did try coloured backgrounds for lighter haired ones but even
then you can get coloured reflections and shadows in the subject which can
cause removal problems.

HTH
MH

Hello, John!
You wrote  on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:19:12 -0500:

Agree on the second para. I tried to pick a sheet color that was a real
contrast to the skin and clothing and hair (nice to have gray hair at times
like these <g> ). Time will tell if that makes it a clean selection or if I
end up with halo after halo.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail: colonelblip.no.spam.please@bigfoot.com

JF> It is easy to make your own digitally.  Just make a new layer and set
JF> your foreground and background colors to what you want.  Fill the layer
JF> with the background color.  (I usually use two shades of brown.)  Then
JF> just go to <filter><render><clouds> and keep clicking until you see one
JF> that you like. You can modify it some more with gradients, or by
JF> softening it with the blur filter.  I have found that it often works
JF> better if I select a smaller portion of the layer, copy it and then
JF> paste it in to make the pattern bigger.

JF> The hard part is selecting the subject from whatever background it is
JF> in front of to put it in your new background.



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I tried green screen awhile ago. I didn't have the space or enough strobes.
Since the subject was too close to the screen and the background not
separately lit I got green spill on the models.

Now I have more lights and should try it again. Right now I have a light
beige wall and a black backdrop. One or the other is good for now. I use a
cut-out routine that Russell Brown teaches (google him) that is complicated
but does an excellent job.

When I create a background in PS I often pick a couple of colors in the
shot...like lips and clothing...and make a blend of those....add some
textures.

--
Thanks,
Gene Palmiter
(visit my photo gallery at http://palmiter.dotphoto.com)
freebridge design group
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that are swift in running to
mischief, false witnesses that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.Proverbs 6:16-19

www.route611.com & Route 611 Magazine
"dvus" <dven1@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:VIudnYLKeJwlIAPeRVn-uA@adelphia.com...
> John Forest wrote:
> 
>
> He indicated he'd used a mono-color backdrop to make that easier. Which
> brings up something I've wondered about, anyone have thoughts on whether
> one or another type and/or color backdrop will produce better portrait
> images? It would seem that solid, uniquely colored ones would make
> selection of the subject easier as in the above case, but what about
> backdrops meant to be kept as such?
>
> --
> dvus
>