Field guide
Bring your own photographic backdrop
A convincing replacement depends less on the cutout than on whether subject and backdrop appear to share a camera, a light source and a physical floor.
01
Set scale from familiar objects and perspective lines. A doorway, horizon or tabletop can reveal immediately when the subject is too large for the scene.
02
Match depth of field rather than applying arbitrary blur. The background should soften according to its implied distance and the sharpness already present around the subject.
03
Compare light direction using nose, chin and clothing shadows. A left-lit portrait against a strongly right-lit room remains a composite even with a perfect edge.
04
Use the matte brushes at hair and contact points. Small gaps around shoes or furniture legs break the ground connection more visibly than minor errors in a soft outer silhouette.