Backgrounds for Photoshop

[dandaluzphotography]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know of a website where I can get backgrounds that I can throw cars on to? I guess technically, any background would do, but I'm looking for backgrounds specifically made for cars.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[Skaperen]

How would I make things like that? What would be the requirements?

 

[dandaluzphotography]

Perhaps a scene with a road or an empty lot or in front of like a brick wall or something. You know, stuff like that.

 

[The_Pearl_Poet]

I understand that you are looking for backgrounds that you could download, but why don't you shoot your own backgrounds? That way you can get exactly what you want.

 

[dandaluzphotography]

I'm definitely doing that. Just wondering if anyone knew where I could download them as well.

 

[KmH]

I doubt there are any digital backgrounds specifically made for cars.

Digital backgrounds usually look like digital backgrounds because the lighting and shadows rarely match when something is thrown onto the digital background.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Man, you don't want to do that... Shoot in your own creativity. It's always very easy to tell the difference between a real and rendered background.

 

[dandaluzphotography]

Thanks for the responses. I have a location in mind and i'm probably going to shoot it at different times of the day to get different effects. I see what you mean about the lighting.

Danny

 

[Bynx]

If you have a car pic you have to shoot the scene from the relative same position as the car, to match both perspective and shadows.

 

[Tstandiford]

Actually, I like to go to deviantart.com and find some per-made backgrounds in their stock image section. The community at DA ia a bit...eccentric to say the least, but they do offer some good stock images for free on occasion.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

If you have a car pic you have to shoot the scene from the relative same position as the car, to match both perspective and shadows.

Perspective, yes.

Lighting, yes.

Shadows, not so much. Not that I'm condoning it (God forbid I enable you to put words in my mouth again.), but shadows can easily be created in photoshop to give your object the look as if it were there in the first place.

However, you have to make sure the light source is hitting your subject in the same direction that the light hits your background.

 

[Bynx]

Lighting or shadows -- same thing. You want to match the lighting or the shadows. You need one for the other. But saying lighting conditions would be more appropriate I guess. Its interesting though, how we look at things. If I want to match a lighting situation I pay more attention to the shadows than the highlights. I guess others would do the same with highlights and ignore the shadows. Interesting.

On rereading what you said, I think you have things bass ackwards. The object (car) has been taken and its now the problem of finding a location. The angle of the shadows (light source) should match the shadows on the car. And you cant ignore shadows and do them later if they dont match. That would mean removing shadows from one area and moving them to another. Its a lot easier to shoot it from the right angle in the first place. It doesnt have to be perfect, but if its too far off our brain knows something is wrong without realizing what it is......and thats the difference in lighting/shadows between the car and location. Shooting everything on an overcast day solves a lot of problems but not always possible. And shadows can be created in Photoshop -- drop shadows under the vehicle but not so much all the subtle shadows that might be on the car that might have to be changed.