Photoshop_Greenscreen

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= Photoshop Greenscreening = "Compositing" is the process of combining elements of two or more images to create a "believable" NEW image. The process has been used in Hollywood for decades - Photoshop makes it easy to composite photos in the classroom. Creating BELIEVABLE Greenscreen composites however, is a bit of an art. You have to be a SKILLFUL photographer and digital editor to make the illusion convincing!

// Note - GREEN is only used because it is a unique and easily identifiable colour - ANY colour (including white or black) can be used in this technique, so long as it is DISTINCT from the colours worn by your subject. //

Here's the Step by Step spelled out for you Once you have the shots - these steps can help you put it all together:


 * PREPARE YOUR IMAGES
 * 1) **OPEN THE PHOTOS**
 * 2) The "Subject" will be the greenscreen photo, the "Background" should match the angle and lighting to be effective
 * 3) The two images should appear side by side in the thumbnail display at the bottom left of the screen
 * 4) **SELECT the SUBJECT**
 * 5) Use the MAGIC WAND Selection Tool - set the OPTIONS at the top of the screen:
 * 6) Tolerance can be set between 32 and 60
 * 7) Antialias should be ON
 * 8) CONTIGUOUS should be ON
 * 9) Sample all layers should be OFF
 * 10) Click on a patch of green to select it
 * 11) SHIFT-CLICK to add to the selected area until you have it all
 * 12) Use the Magic Wand, Lasso, Polygonal lasso and Magnetic Lasso selection tools to "clean up" your selection:
 * To add more pixels to the selection - **Hold SHIFT**
 * To REMOVE pixels from the selection - **Hold the ALT key**
 * 1) Use SELECT - INVERT to now select the subject, rather than the background || [[image:cyberdog/GreenscreenMatt01.jpg caption="GreenscreenMatt01.jpg"]] ||
 * MERGE YOUR PHOTOS
 * 1) **DRAG the SUBJECT to the BACKGROUND**
 * 2) Use the MOVE tool (top left in the toolbox) to drag the subject onto the background (Name the new layer appropriately)
 * 3) Use MOVE tool to SHRINK the foreground subject to fit background. NOTE: Zoom OUT if you need to see the edges of your subject || [[image:cyberdog/GreenscreenMatt02.jpg caption="GreenscreenMatt02.jpg"]] ||
 * DEFRINGE the GREEN EDGES


 * 1) **FEATHER the EDGES**
 * 2) CTRL-CLICK the ICON of your subject layer (the little picture in the layers palette)
 * 3) Use SELECT-INVERSE to select the area AROUND your subject in that layer
 * 4) Use SELECT-FEATHER and try a feather of 1 pixel
 * 5) Use Ctrl-H to HIDE the selection borders
 * 6) Hit the DELETE key to "eat away" the bordering pixels and see if that makes the image look more or less believable - repeat if necessary
 * 7) Hit CTRL-D to deselect the "invisible" selection area
 * 8) **RECOLOUR the GREEN**
 * 9) Create a new layer above your SUBJECT layer
 * 10) Set it's LAYER MODE from "normal" to "COLOUR"
 * 11) CTRL-Click the layer icon for your subject to create a selection (but stay on the new "colour" layer)
 * 12) Use the CLONE STAMP tool
 * 13) Be sure that USE ALL LAYERS and ALIGNED options are turned on
 * 14) Choose a decent sized brush for the job
 * 15) ALT-Click a GOOD colour from the interior of your subject - let go of the ALT
 * 16) Paint the outer fringe with appropriate internal colours.
 * 17) WHEN COMPLETE - you can use the Layers Palette Menu and MERGE DOWN to "fix" the colours permanently. || [[image:cyberdog/GreenscreenMatt03.jpg caption="GreenscreenMatt03.jpg"]]

||
 * ENHANCE THE ILLUSION
 * 1) **ADD FOREGROUND ELEMENTS**
 * 2) Select elements from the background that you'd like to place in FRONT of your subject and use Ctrl-J to put them in their own layer.
 * 3) Drag that layer above your subject's layer to add realistic immersion


 * 1) **ADD SHADOWS**
 * 2) Create a layer under the subject. You may also copy the layer, flip it vertically, and re-colour it to appear as a shadow.
 * 3) Use a brush and paint appropriate shading.
 * 4) Change the layer opacity to between 30% and 70% to create believability || [[image:stormtech/GreenscreenGiant03.jpg caption="GreenscreenGiant03.jpg"]] ||