What’s Your Preference?

phaither · #1 (**permalink**) 01-23-2011, 10:31 PM

here are 2 shots of a friend. i'm trying to edit one for her to use on a book cover. in the original, her hair looks natural but i can't seem to maintain it in the edit. please help with suggestions, about the hair or anything else...

ORIGINAL

EDIT

zona5101 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 04:59 AM

You should re-shoot it with the specific intention of getting a suitable capture for publication not taking a snapshot and forcing it to be something it is not. In the long run you both will be happier if you got a better shot rather than dink around with this one...

Photologyst · #3 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 08:31 AM

I agree that you should reshoot because:

That is a very odd and unflattering angle for your friend. Her right eye looks much smaller than the left in this photo.

Why have you cut the top of her head off?

If you want a neutral background, why not pose her against one?

edbayani · #4 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 09:56 AM

agree with both zona and photologyst that you reshoot since this will be used for a book cover. but addressing your query about editing, duplicate the image, add a blank layer below the duplicate and fill this with the color you want. go back to the duplicate and apply layermask and with soft brush, erase the background. then move the image to the right. flatten. i uploaded a sample edit.

edbayani · #5 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 09:58 AM

i fully agree and i think that is the best advice, of both zona and photologyst that you reshoot since this will be used for a book cover. but addressing your query about editing, duplicate the image, add a blank layer below the duplicate and fill this with the color you want. go back to the duplicate and apply layermask and with soft brush, erase the background. then move the image to the right. flatten. i uploaded a sample edit.

zona5101 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbayani

i fully agree and i think that is the best advice, of both zona and photologyst that you reshoot since this will be used for a book cover. but addressing your query about editing, duplicate the image, add a blank layer below the duplicate and fill this with the color you want. go back to the duplicate and apply layermask and with soft brush, erase the background. then move the image to the right. flatten. i uploaded a sample edit.

very nice work edbayani! If I had to go to press tomorrow with no chance for a reshoot, your edit would save the day.

edbayani · #7 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 02:10 PM

thank you, bruce.

phaither · #8 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 02:13 PM

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I do like your version MUCH better! As for the angle, it was chosen by the subject. We are in the very early stages of choosing a photo, so there is plenty of time for a reshoot. I will keep all of your advice in mind. Thank you both for your time and expertise.
Faith