NEW A.I. to Auto-Match Subject with Background! - Photoshop Tutorial

Introduction

Hi there, this is Sunreesh from Piximperfect. How are you doing? I hope you're having a fantastic day and, as always, turning this day into an absolutely brilliant and magnificent one. Welcome to this video!

In this tutorial, we'll discuss a fairly new but incredibly underutilized feature in Photoshop that automatically matches the subject with the background. While it's not a perfect feature and might not work 100% of the time, it can provide a great starting point that saves you tons of time.

Getting Started

First, ensure the light source in both your subject and background images is similar. For instance, in our example, the light is coming from one side and slightly behind in both images. Once you confirm this, you can proceed to make a selection of your subject.

Making the Selection

This is not a selection tutorial, so if you’re interested in detailed techniques, check out other videos in the description. Load the selection by navigating to Select > Load Selection and choosing “subject.” With the selection active, click on the mask button to create a mask.

Placing the Subject

Placement is crucial for making the composite look real. Match the horizons of the subject and the background using the Line Tool. Draw lines to determine the horizon in the background and the subject image, then align them. Adjust the subject's size to make it proportionate to the background.

Flipping the Subject

To ensure the lighting matches, you might need to flip the subject or the background. In this case, we flipped the subject by pressing Ctrl+T, right-clicking, and selecting Flip Horizontal.

Applying Neural Filters for Color Matching

Let's proceed to the main feature—color matching using Neural Filters. Press Filter > Neural Filters and activate the Harmonize filter. Choose the background layer to match the subject’s colors. Adjust the settings like strength, brightness, and saturation to fine-tune the matching. Outputting it as a smart filter allows for later adjustments.

Fine-Tuning Details

After the color matching, take a break and then revisit the image for final touches. Fine-tune any color discrepancies using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. For example, ensure the white areas in the subject match the tonal quality of the snow in the background. Similarly, brighten the darker edges using sampled colors.

Adding Noise and Blur

To further blend the composite, add a noise layer. Create a new layer, set its Blend Mode to Overlay, and add noise. Blur this noise slightly to make it look natural. Adjust the noise opacity as needed.

Additionally, blur the background slightly to create a more realistic depth of field. Go to Filter > Blur Gallery > Tilt-Shift and adjust the blur settings.

Final Touches

You can add color grading using lookup tables or other adjustments to blend the composite seamlessly.

Conclusion

That’s how you use the Harmonize Neural Filter in Photoshop to match colors effectively. While it's not always perfect, it offers a great starting point. Knowing your way around Hue/Saturation and Curves adjustments can further enhance your results.

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Keywords

• Photoshop
• Neural Filters
• Harmonize Filter
• Color Matching
• Composite Images
• Depth of Field
• Hue/Saturation Adjustment
• Noise Layer

FAQ

Q: How do I ensure the lighting matches in both the subject and background? A: Make sure the light source in both images is coming from the same direction and has similar intensity.

Q: What do I do if the Harmonize Neural Filter gives me unexpected results? A: Fine-tune the colors using Hue/Saturation and Curves adjustments to correct any discrepancies.

Q: Can I edit the neural filter settings later? A: Yes, if you output the effect as a smart filter, you can revisit and adjust the settings anytime.

Q: How can I ensure the subject and background blend seamlessly? A: Besides color matching, ensure the light source is similar, match the horizons, and add noise and blur to achieve a realistic depth of field.

Q: Should I flip the subject or the background to match lighting? A: It depends on your image. There’s no right or wrong; choose what works best for your specific composite.