Darkening/Blackening a Background in Photoshop

[eugener43076104]

Hi I would like to know how to darken/blacken a background in Photoshop. I am doing flower photography and have a blurred background through using a large aperture setting f1.8. I would like to completely blacken the background so the flower really stands out.

Thanks

[JJMack]

Add a replacement background or adjust the current one.

[D Fosse]

What JJ is saying is that the background isn't the problem.

What you need to do is mask out the main subject, the flower, using any of Photoshop's multitude of selection tools to do so. There is no automatic method. Once you have your mask, the rest is easy.

[Marja de Klerk]

With the mask D Fosse suggested, you can darken the background with various methods, for instance using Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation

[Marja de Klerk · Accepted solution]

Tje easiest way is to use an adjustment layer. First select the background, and, with te background selected, make a new adjustment layer. This way the mask is already made.

You can use an adjustment layer Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation or Exposure, these will all darken the background.

[eugener43076104]

Thank you for your help. Gives me a better understanding of what I need to do. I will go and try it.