The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and 3.
Most photographers who are serious about improving their portrait taking skills have realized that a beautiful background can greatly enhance their photographs.
Muslins are a very popular choice among professionals. However, they can get very costly at several hundred dollars each. For the professional who is well established, this may not seem too much, but for the hobbyist, this may be a stretch.
A less costly alternative is a digital background. With a digital background, one can get the look and feel of a professional looking portrait without the additional cost of muslin.
Many Photography websites also sell digital backgrounds on cd. In some cases?as low as $15.00 dollars for an assorted collection. As with anything else?you usually get what you pay for. Some of these pre-made digital backgrounds are not worth the cd they're printed on, but some of them are very beautifully made. Even so, you may be wondering how YOU can make your very own digital background. That being said, the following information will help guide you along the way.
Okay, let's create a digital backdrop using Adobe Elements 2.0. We will create an 8x10 300dpi (dpi = dots per inch or ppi = pixels per inch) digital backdrop. For printing purposes, 300dpi is strongly recommended for a high quality print. This will also create a large file approximately 20.6megs.
Having a fast processor (Pentium 4 or Athlon XP) and at least 256megs of ram will definitely help. Also having your screen resolution on your monitor set to its highest setting 24 or 32bit will give the best results.
Okay let's begin! If you haven't already opened Photoshop Elements, do so now.
1. Click on File < New. When the window opens up,make sure to set it to 8x10 inches at 300dpi.
2. Make a copy of the background layer you just created by pressing Control-J on your keyboard. If you look at the bottom right corner of your monitor, you should see an exact copy of your background layer named layer 1.
3. Select the "foreground" color for your background by clicking on the foreground square on your toolbar? the black one. (Bottom left)
4. The Color Picker window should now be open. Select a light red by clicking on the top right corner of the color palette. Click ok.
5. Now select the "background" color by clicking on the background square on your toolbar? the white one. (Bottom right)
6. The Color Picker window should open again. Select a darker red by clicking halfway below the lighter red you previously chose. Click ok.
7. Now comes the fun part! Let's put some clouds in there. On the top of your screen, click on Filter
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Demystifying Digital Camera JargonWant to buy a digital camera but... Read More
When buying a digital camera there are many things you... Read More
Disposable wedding cameras (also called single-use cameras) will never replace... Read More
Disposable digital and film cameras (also called single-use cameras) provide... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
Even though Nikon entered the camera world by 1948, today... Read More
There are also some excellent online courses available and some... Read More
Why is a 3 megapixel camera better than a 1... Read More
1. Pet photos - advertise a Pet Photography business where... Read More
So you have this great digital camera and you've taken... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
There are two types of underwater camera systems: an ""amphibious""... Read More
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Looking at the digital camera, a person can visualize it... Read More
At a Photo Club meeting I attended recently, the President... Read More
As a professional wedding photographer I get this question asked... Read More
Nude photography is the genre of art photography, whose subject... Read More
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or... Read More
The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device... Read More
For years I wondered how big the bucks were that... Read More
Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of... Read More
While it would be nice to live in a house... Read More
Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More
Your first thought when you read "Alligator Farm" might be... Read More
Last month we bought the Canon Powershot A80 online for... Read More
Shopping for a new digital camera can be quite frustrating... Read More
Composition is defined as the combining of distinct parts or... Read More
The digital camera is but a technological advancement of the... Read More
Looking at the most intricate details of the digital camera... Read More
I've been practising wildlife photography on safari for over twenty... Read More
The business of stock photography has drastically changed over the... Read More
Digital Camera Basics? The VocabularyShopping for a digital camera can... Read More
Did you know that in many cases digital photos are... Read More
So, you have taken lots of pictures with your new... Read More
Remember the good old photography days?Film camera in hand, you... Read More
The digital camera is not something of a magic box... Read More
One of the biggest debates in the photography world is... Read More
It doesn't matter if your emailing photos of your grandson... Read More
Before you rush into buying your digital camera this holiday... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
If you are in the market to purchase a digital... Read More
The world of photography is an amazing one. It's been... Read More
If you use a digital camera (I use a Canon... Read More
Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More
There are lots of options available for getting your digital... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
If you are buying a new underwater camera or video... Read More
Get a good face shot: Use Higher quality cameras at... Read More
Last month we bought the Canon Powershot A80 online for... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
Several years ago, I met a fellow photographer - albeit,... Read More
There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making... Read More
You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the... Read More
Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and... Read More
Children are naturally photogenic. Ive worked in studios and children... Read More
ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind... Read More
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way... Read More
Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills... Read More
I love panoramas. There's something very appealing about their shape.... Read More
Digital photography promises much. Store your photographs on your computer,... Read More
How many of the birthday party pictures you've seen are... Read More
Demystifying Digital Camera JargonWant to buy a digital camera but... Read More
The digital camera is not meant only for capturing images... Read More
Quality digital cameras are becoming affordable for just about everyone... Read More
Photography |