change background to white

[robvasi]

I am sure this has been asked numerous time.  I searched on  this forum and found nothing.  I also watched some online presnetations, but I get bogged down and can't keep up or don't see the same thing on my PS, which is due to different version, or so it seems.

I need a white background.  The subject is mirrored and colored sunglasses.  They have gold frames and the frames are rounded.

I have limited Photoshop skills and a vague understanding of how PS works.   So, i will need step by step instructions.

I have PS 2017.  I use a Windows computer

Thank you.

[Nancy OShea]

Show us your image so we know what you're working with.

And please tell us which version of Photoshop have have.   Help > About Photoshop or  System Info.

Your Toolbar should have 2 color swatches.  Clicking the the top left one is for foreground color.  The bottom right one is your background color.   See screenshot.

[robvasi]

Adobe Photoshop Version: 2017.1.0 20170309.r.207 2017/03/09:23:00:00 CL 1107877  x64

When I try to make the background 255 white, the frames are either blown out or gone.

[Derek Cross]

A screen shot of your glasses image would help. Presumably the existing background needs deleting (called a cut-out) and replaced with a white background with some shadow coming off the glasses onto the white background.

[robvasi]

What you described seems to be what I need to do.

[Nancy OShea]

I used the magic wand tool to grab most of the background and hit Backspace to replace it with my existing background color (white).  You would need to add some depth with shadows & light shading on lenses.

[robvasi]

The result needs to look as if it was photographed on white.  The edges need to be smooth.  So, after these steps, I need to go around the frames and fill in? 

[Nancy OShea]

For photo realism, see Deke McClelland's tutorial on Masking & Compositing.

Photoshop Masking and Compositing: Fundamentals

[davescm · Accepted solution]

That is a badly underexposed image but easy to fix. If you want to retain some of the shadows :

In the layers panel - Right click on the layer and choose "Convert to Smart object"

Go to menu Filter - Camera Raw Filter

Choose the white balance tool and click anywhere on the white

Drag the Whites slider to the right until you are left with just enough shadow to make it realistic

Drag the Highlights to the left to restore the detail in the bright frames

Drop the exposure and shadows sliders (drag to the left) to darken the mid blues

That is it - click OK

You can reopen the raw filter if you want to adjust further by clicking in the layers panel

Dave

[robvasi]

Thank you, this is something I can do. I really appreciate the response