Make background black.

[mellowhead]

How does everyone make the picture background solid black? I'm guessing photoshop or equivalent. I'd love to know how to do this. For example see below.

Regards,

 

[t5Nitro]

You can use channels in photoshop and make a mask for this. I'd recommend watching some tutorials.

 

[mellowhead]

Cool, at least I know what term to search for now. Any other suggestions or is that basically all there is?

Regards,

 

[firstsalt]

i think i've heard of using black acrylic but i've never tried it.

 

[Reef Bass]

Believe or not, it took zero effort to make the background of that shot of my purple rim green Monti cap. look like that. That coral was sitting right below my 400w MH. With that much light bouncing off the subject, the exposure alone resulted in the background being dark. No changes to levels or curves. No layer masks. Nada.

That there was nothing immediately behind it also helped. My overflow was probably 4" behind it but not in the footprint of the MH light, so it's delightfully obscure.

Ken

 

[joe102]

I think using a mask w/ photo shop is the way to go.

 

[mellowhead]

Thanks, I'll play around some more today.

Regards,

 

[Reef Bass]

Sure, you can get busy with layers and selections, but you're working too hard. All you need is a bright subject and nothing immediately behind it. Here are a couple more. I didn't do any background manipulations in any of these. This Dinosaur Egg Monti was on the bottom of my tank, not even right under my MHs (the polyps are retracted because I moved it to take the pic):

ORA Plum Crazy:

ORA Blue Voodoo:

Undata:

 

[mellowhead]

Ken, your shots are amazing. I would have never thought it was possible to get a pitch black background just by taking the shot correctly. Now if you only lived by me to show me how you work that magic

On another note, I'm about to take the plunge and get a real camera. I was thinking of picking up a Nikon D3000. Any thoughts?

Best Regards,

 

[Reef Bass]

Thanks for your kind comment.

I shoot a Canon EOS 50D with the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro usm lens. Don't forget your lens choice is important too, not just the body.

I'm not familiar with the model you mentioned (D3000). But if it's a Canon, you'll probably be delighted. I'm going to make myself scarce now because them's fightin' words with the Nikon boys.

 

[mellowhead]

Sorry about the confusion. I meant Nikon. Thanks for the lens information as well.


Best Regards,