I am trying to take a photo of a banner against an off white wall. Is there a way to get a pure white background and the banner colors not be overexposed? I am using a point a point and shoot camera on auto settings. Right now, the picture looks a little/blueish.
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\$\begingroup\$ Bluish is common color temperature (white ballance) adjustment. (Or a reference to the end of Yellow Submarine.) Why can't you move the banner or slide a paper behind it? Paper with a color not found in the subject would be easier than white when the brightness varies so much. \$\endgroup\$– JDługoszDec 30, 2014 at 21:34
3 Answers
ideally you should light the background and the banner separately. This might be quite hard to achieve this look if you are using auto mode though. Does your camera have a manual mode by any chance?
Leon
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\$\begingroup\$ oh ok. And yes, it does have a manual mode. \$\endgroup\$– jennyDec 30, 2014 at 17:14
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\$\begingroup\$ I think you need a bit more detail there... Manual mode is all well and good, but your basic suggestion means image compositing and you should probably explain that. \$\endgroup\$– Joanne CDec 30, 2014 at 18:42
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\$\begingroup\$ Do you have any editing software? I made a video on this exact subject on my youtube channel but if you don't have any editing software it might be worth having a look at this free software gimp.org/downloads \$\endgroup\$– LeonDec 30, 2014 at 18:43
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\$\begingroup\$ Hi Joanne, lighting the subject and the background would be taken in one shot so no compositing would be necessary. I suggested using manual mode so you can take full control of the camera and make the exposure as bright as you need for the look you want. \$\endgroup\$– LeonDec 30, 2014 at 18:45
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\$\begingroup\$ @Leon -- Most people using P&S probably don't have appropriate lighting gear for that purpose, so I took that as light for the background (or overexpose) and then light for the banner and merge after. (As an aside, use the "@" before the name and you will notify the person) \$\endgroup\$– Joanne CDec 30, 2014 at 19:23
No, it is not possible without manipulating the results in an editing program.
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\$\begingroup\$ While true, the how you would do this is probably a more real and complete answer. \$\endgroup\$– Joanne CDec 30, 2014 at 18:43
With the banner against the wall, rather than separated from it, you have to make the subject look right and fix the background in PS. Use a tripod and take a series of bracketed exposures. Tools for HDR/tone mapping might make quick work of the resulting stack, or IAC the overexposed version is good for making the mask.
I have a similar issue with scanning old magazine pages: I use color-match selection and delete the off-white paper leaving only the ink. Making the wall evenly lit would be the most helpful there.