Can you convincingly replace a background when the subject is leaning against a green screen at an angle?

Question

In a portrait studio, we currently use roll paper backgrounds, but we’re considering offering textured looks such as brick, wood, or marble. One option is to install a green screen and composite the texture later; the other is to add physical textured backdrops.

The challenge is a pose where the subject is leaning against the background while the camera is angled to it, so the final image should look like the person is actually touching a brick wall or similar surface. I’m concerned about green spill on the subject, shadows cast onto the screen, and whether perspective and lighting will make the composite look fake.

Is this type of image practical with a green screen, and if so what workflow works best? Or is a physical textured background the better choice for this use case?

user85449 · Answer

With Photoshop

From the original photo

Mask the model:

Duplicate the green channel:

Invert it to obtain the shadows channel:

Insert the background in another layer:

Put the masked model layer on top:

Add a new fill layer with the shadow mask and the desired shadow color:

From the menu Image > Adjustments > Replace color > change the green color in the model highlights:

Adjust the Levels in the shadow's mask if necessary and/or change the blending mode to Multiply:

Try different backgrounds keeping the same shadows layer:

Can you convincingly replace a background when the subject is leaning against a green screen at an angle?

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