Backlighting Techniques...

Backlighting can be a dramatic way to portray your subject. This can be done most effectively when shooting the photograph. Adding a remote flash behind the subject, you can bounce the light off the background, and as a result highlighting the hair and surrounding a portion of the image in light. This can be done in Photoshop as well. You will need to produce several duplicate layers and be certain they are exactly aligned to one another. This is best done from the "Duplicate Layer" function of the layer palette flyout menu. Always duplicate from the background layer to get the original source. Keep the Background layer untouched.

The above and below images were done in Photoshop. For each I carefully selected the subject with the Pen Tool. I used the trap method of contracting and feathering an edge to replicate the particular softness of the image's edge. That is further explained in the comment of this image:
ThunderBirds2| gwennie2006 • flickr.com





We have a detailed tutorial on working with the Lighting Effects filter to add some backlight. It is the Feather Model project from the Deanna Cremin Memorial Foundation. Here are some example...
FeatherModelProject| search - tags • flickr.com

...and our blog on it...
GrfxDziner.com | Blogger GrfxDziner:
the Feather Model Project...




On the two above examples, you will notice how I bled some of the light onto the subject in the second image. This blends okay and will show the light coming over the edge when it is bright. Maybe not as much as I did, but that will show you hoe it does. I have that in layers, so I can easily redo the edge again, and make it less. Sometimes in animation it helps to have one frame that goes beyond what would look normal. That is what I will be using the second image for. When light pops, it shines fast and your eyes take a brief moment to adjust. Having just one frome bleed too far, and then combined with the normal splash of light, will exagerrate the effect. Music videos use the backlight techniques very well, and especially for live performance where there are many light sources to choose, and most are from behind the artist.



Sometimes the light is from a reflection, bouncing onto the subject.


Sometimes the light is just a spot light in the background. Shifting the light slightly for additional layers will help add a little depth. Always do it on layers, and try different lighting blending modes.


Much more can be found from here too..
GrfxDziner.com | Blogger GrfxzDziner:
Light Effect work from the Deanna Cremin Memorial Foundation

__________________________________________
Justice for Deanna Cremin
the UnSolved Murder of Deanna Cremin...
aired on Fox25 News
by, Investigator/Reporter Bob Ward...
Saturday, November 11, 2006 (5PM; 6PM; 10PM; 11PM) - Thank You!!


very much!



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Stairway to Heaven GrfxDziner.com
| Articles on Deanna Cremin... Somerville, MA

flickr HiveMind | MyFoxBoston (recent uploads)
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NOTE: Code for missing video FOX25 News...
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