Skip to main content
Mataniels
Mataniels
Known Participant
July 1, 2020
Question

Composites Don't Look Real

  • July 1, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 809 views

Hi All,

 

Looking for some tips on how to make a composite look real. I am a novice in my first weeks of using photoshop. I'm getting selections ok but when I add them to a new image I cant get it to look like it should naturally be there 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Leslie Moak Murray
Community Expert
Leslie Moak MurrayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 9, 2020

In addition to the light source, the cat needs a drop shadow under his feet to avoid looking like he's floating above the ground.

    Mataniels
    MatanielsAuthor
    Known Participant
    July 9, 2020

    Thank you - much appreciated!

      Chuck Uebele
      Community Expert
      Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 1, 2020

      The light direction is different in the two images. Flipping the cat might help a bit, but the light on the lions is more from the front right, whereas the light on the Cat is from the left. Also the camera angle is very different. The angle on the Cat is looking down. There also needs better shadowing on the Cat and background

       

        Mataniels
        MatanielsAuthor
        Known Participant
        July 1, 2020

        I guess I can't really do anything about the angle. 
        Not sure how to do the shadowing. I'll have to play some more 

        thank you 

        S
        simo.b
        Inspiring
        July 1, 2020

        Along with Chuck's advice of matching the camera angle, I'd shoot the cat picture again if you can, but do it outdoors and in similar light as you can find to the lion shot. 

        The Lion shot is taken with a telephoto lens, but the cat photo is pretty wide angle. Maybe a longer focal length lens on your camera would help, or zoom in if you don't have one. It'll help match the perpsective better as well.

        If you can't shoot the cat picture again, darkening the paws and legs and brightening the upper part of the body would maybe help as well.

         

        Good to see you've got the hang of selections and some colour adjustments. Cats are hard to cut out well ;¬)

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices