I produce a 176 page catalog for my employer. There are approximately 1800 iamges in this catalog. The images were produced by a multitude of photographers. The problem is that the backgrounds are all different and I would like to standardize them. I would like a blue PMS286 background for a particular section in the catalog and have managed to cut and place these images onto the blue background. I have added drop shadows and cast shadows to make the images look more realistic. They look okay but my trouble is with the backgrounds themselves. They still look like an artificial, non-photographic studio background. How can I make the backgrounds look more realistic as if these images were actually photographed with the new background? Please keep your answers pretty simple - I am a beginner using CS2. Thanks for your .

There are so many possibilities it is hard to know where to begin!

You couls add noise; add noise and blur it in different ways; use the texturizer filter with the in-built options or your own; apply a pattern — the list goes on.

I suggest you experiment with the different filters because only you know what you want.

Of course the background has to be on its own layer.

Look at many different catalogs and examine the ones you like more closely, for the techniques that they use, and that you like. Try to duplicate these techniques. If you can’t, then place some examples on the forum and ask for on each particular technique. This way it limits and directs a response to a specific problem. Right now your question is very broad…
There is nothing wrong with copying techniques that others have mastered or used.
Ed

Not sure what's wrong with the background looking non-photographic? Could you show us an example?

Why not photograph a background that is to your liking and use that on all of them?

You do have your shadows set to Multiply, right?

very simple take background you think appropriate., or duplicate the layer., apply - FILTER > LENS BLUR try with different settings and
then apply similiar colour overlays - adjust to opacity suitably and you will get identifying backgrounds

And make sure that whoever hires the photographers next time insists that all art be supplied with a white background.