Adobe Photoshop Tutorial
How to make the Subject stand out.
This pic is overpowered by the background, so we need to focus on the performer, and flatten the background.
Here is the original:
and after :
Duplicate the layer and de-select it (for insurance against errors) and name it (Work
Dble Click the Quick Mask icon and set the color to something that will contrast with your pic.
Choose a small (5px) soft brush with opacity set to 100%,
and carefully outline the subject
When the mask is complete revert to Standard Mode, and invert the mask, (Ctr/Shift/I)
and save it for later. (Singer)
Run Auto Level/Auto Contrast/Auto Color and the Unsharp Mask in the selection to liven it up a bit.
Now click Ctr/Shift/I to revert to the background
and play with Levels to reduce the light values and darken it a bit.
Then use Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blur to simulate the background out of focus. I used 0.7 setting to leave it distinct. but slightly fuzzy.
That's it, your subject is now crisp and clear, and the background is much more subdued..
The singer is Jim Tautau performing at a Christian open-air Rock Festival in 2005. (NZ).