003 - IFX tutorial - Combining foreground and background
This tutorial was written for ImagineFX magazine Issue#2.
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How to combine background and foreground objects, avoiding that cut/paste feel.
What makes the different elements in a picture work together is consistent use of colours, the angle of the light sources, ambient light influences, and shadows. Firstly, figure out what kind of ambient light you have in the picture. If the background is already decided, then adjust the colours in the pasted in object to fit the background. Personally, I prefer using the “Color balance” (ctrl+b in Photoshop for Windows) to adjust the colours.
Also, you have to make sure that the angles of the light sources and shadows are the same on both background and foreground; this should be figured out before you combine the two elements. Having different light source angles on different element in a painting really breaks a piece. On the first picture example the background has got a cold blue ambient colour, and the girl pasted in has got a warm, golden hue. I want to keep the cold light, so I’m adjusting the layer with the girl to make it appear colder.
When combining elements like this, it’s important to have a good crop of the pasted element. If for example the hair has been cut out too rough, or too sharp, this will look weird, going over the picture and soften it by brushing out with the rubber tool with a soft brush on low flow might be a good idea as well.