How to match a subject to a new background

1. Look at the light

Find the brightest side of the person or product. Look under the chin or near the ground. Which way do shadows fall? Are their edges soft or sharp?

Use those clues when choosing a background. A bright window on the wrong side can make the picture hard to match.

2. Check the camera angle

Check the view of the scene. Is the camera looking down or straight ahead? Does that match the person or product?

For example, you may see the top of a table in one photo but not in the other. Color changes cannot fix that mismatch. Choose a better fitting background first.

3. Check the shadow on the ground

Look where the subject touches the ground. A missing shadow can make it seem to float. Keep a useful shadow from the original when you can.

Put new shadows on a separate layer. You can then change their strength. Follow other shadows in the scene. Do not add a dark border around every edge.

4. Match light and color

Change the subject and background separately. Compare dark areas, bright areas and warm or cool colors. Make one change, then look at the whole picture again.

Use adjustment layers to keep color changes easy to change later. Photoshop also offers Harmonize to help match a subject to its background. Check its result before keeping it.

Read more: Non-destructive editing techniques · Photoshop generative AI features

5. Check close up and from a distance

View the whole picture. Does the person or product look as if it belongs there? Then zoom to 100% to check the edges and texture.

For a product, compare its color with the original. A nice background is not enough if the product now looks different. Save the file with its layers.