Using Different Methods of Selection when the foreground and Background in a photo is not clearly defined ?

[augustya]

Hi Guys, 

So we all know everyone has different method and approach to selecting a subject using the various selection methods that are available in Affinity Photo.  Especially when there is no strong separation between the Foreground and Background it becomes very difficult to have a very clean cut out of your subject

But the other day I came across a very interesting method to select a subject when tying to isolate it from the background. So this guy was doing a video on how to select a subject and the photo he had did not have a very clear, strong separation between the Foreground and the background So what he did was before selecting the subject he added a “Levels” Adjustment Layer and played with the toggles available there to try and define the foreground and background and then he used the Freehand Tool to draw lines around the subject and the idea was do not go too far from the edges of your subject and at the same time do not cross the border into your subject and then he used refine. And the result at the end were very good. I also tried this method and though it works well, But if you have a very bad photo and not a very high definition photo it still is a little tough to get a clean cut out if in the first place, your photo is bad.

My question is what else can I do ? which other adjustment that I can apply on a bad or an average photo which does not have the Background and Foreground well defined, which other adjustment layer that I can apply that will help my photo differentiate between the background and the foreground ? Any ideas ? Suggestions ?

Also I came across one another Video where the guy is using a High Pass Filter to clearly define the foreground and background in his photo even that worked well for him, when I tried that on my not so good photo the results were just about ok nothing great.

Can you guys think of in similar ways what else can I do tricks to bring out a clear separation between the background and foreground if my poto does not have one ?

[NotMyFault]

You can use any filter / adjustment which boosts local contrast. Boosting global contrast does not help so much (curves, levels)

• HSL, increase saturation
• HDR, maximize local contrast (use Tone Mapping Persona in Affinity Photo)
• clarity adjustment layer in Photo Persona, or destructive adjustment in Develop Persona
• use channels panel to choose color channel showing best contrast
• Convert to lab/16, use L, LA / LB channel 

important: after boosting contrast, merge visible, or work destructively on a copy of original layer. Do selection on this layer, but apply as mask or selection to original layer.

[NotMyFault]

If you have smooth gradients, it is possible to create hard edges by posterize filter. Put a curves adjustment layer below to fine-tune position of edge. 
 

I replied to an older post from you with another method using blur filter, blend mode difference, and posterize to create sharp lines between  similar colors as helper layer for selections.

 

[augustya]

1 hour ago, NotMyFault said:

You can use any filter / adjustment which boosts local contrast. Boosting global contrast does not help so much (curves, levels)

• HSL, increase saturation
• HDR, maximize local contrast
• clarity
• use channels panel to choose color channel showing best contrast
• Convert to lab/16, use L, LA / LB channel 

important: after boosting contrast, merge visible, or work destructively on a copy of original layer. Do selection on this layer, but apply as mask or selection to original layer.

So you are saying using "Levels" filter may not help as much as using HDR, Clarity and Channels ? And all these Filters make the edges more prominent and contrasting from the background ?

[NotMyFault]

yes, give it a try. 

As always, it depends on your source image what works best. 

[augustya]

1 hour ago, NotMyFault said:

yes, give it a try. 

As always, it depends on your source image what works best. 

Ok will have to give it a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.

[augustya]

18 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

You can use any filter / adjustment which boosts local contrast. Boosting global contrast does not help so much (curves, levels)

• HSL, increase saturation
• HDR, maximize local contrast
• clarity
• use channels panel to choose color channel showing best contrast
• Convert to lab/16, use L, LA / LB channel 

important: after boosting contrast, merge visible, or work destructively on a copy of original layer. Do selection on this layer, but apply as mask or selection to original layer.

I could not find HDR ? is it a Filter or an Adjustment ?

[RichardMH]

7 minutes ago, augustya said:

I could not find HDR ? is it a Filter or an Adjustment ?

He probably means tone mapping, which is part of the HDR treatment.

[augustya]

7 minutes ago, RichardMH said:

He probably means tone mapping, which is part of the HDR treatment.

Ok.

[augustya]

21 minutes ago, RichardMH said:

He probably means tone mapping, which is part of the HDR treatment.

Again there is nothing called as Tone Mapping, There is Split Toning as an Adjustment ? is that what you meant ?

[RichardMH]

11 minutes ago, augustya said:

Again there is nothing called as Tone Mapping, There is Split Toning as an Adjustment ? is that what you meant ?

Its one of the personas, 2nd from the right