How do "you" remove the background from an image in PS?

[Buchanan0204]

I just wondered peoples preferred method. I've always use the pen tool with paths in CS3... then since switching to CS5 I've tried the new "refine edge" option... however it's not always accurate and if the image doesn't have clear edges it can be a bit jagged.

The pen tool is always accurate and looks good... however it takes literally forever to do an image and isn't great around wavy hair etc.

Does anyone have any tips to share on this. I'm sure a lot of people would be interested to here your methods. I'm led to believe there's a lot of PS grand masters on these forums

Cheers.

 

[nuttyprot]

Area selector then refine edges i find is best method. But for super delicate work I use a rubber .

 

[Buchanan0204]

Area selector then refine edges i find is best method. But for super delicate work I use a rubber .

Area selector? Do you mean the "quick selection tool?"

 

[The__Malteser]

Magnetic lasso

 

[Buchanan0204]

This is the image I am having trouble with. It's got so many jaggy edges that just never look right when I try using the magnetic lasso and also the quick selection.

It's driving me crazy! Spent hours looking at tuts on it

 

[MisChief]

Oooh I'd like to know how this is done. Was at work today and a customer asked if I could provide product images with clipping paths. I googled what clipping path meant and it seems to be the object only with no background??

Can somebody tell me some simple steps on how to to do this? The help I found on google seemed rather confusing and I don't understand

 

[Limenote]

pen tool, sometimes use multiply layer blending which can work really well in the right circumstance

 

[Buchanan0204]

Oooh I'd like to know how this is done. Was at work today and a customer asked if I could provide product images with clipping paths. I googled what clipping path meant and it seems to be the object only with no background??

Can somebody tell me some simple steps on how to to do this? The help I found on google seemed rather confusing and I don't understand

Aren't you just asking the exact same thing as me

 

[Buchanan0204]

pen tool, sometimes use multiply layer blending which can work really well in the right circumstance

Can you expand on that please? Do you then feather it etc?

 

[MisChief]

Aren't you just asking the exact same thing as me

Naahh, you seem to know more about it than I do

For starters, I don't know what the 'pen tool with paths' and "refine edge" options are!! I don't know much about photoshop

 

[qqg3]

With more than 5 mins to spare it could be easily perfected.

 

[Limenote]

Can you expand on that please? Do you then feather it etc?

create the outline with the pen tool, use alt to change the anchors for sharper or curvier edges, save the path and convert to selection, just cutting something out though can look crude, especially with the black on that background I would imagine.

May I ask what you using it for?

 

[Buchanan0204]

With more than 5 mins to spare it could be easily perfected.

Some people hate show offs... I just envy them lol.

Go on... tell us the secret?

EDIT***

Looking at it though... it appears you haven't just cut it out, the colour of the bird has changed... sooo, did you just change the saturation or the levels to make the black go pink?

 

[SourChipmunk]

Full-size PNG version here:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[icecold]

I post it in GD in the hope that someone else can do it

 

[qqg3]

Looking at it though... it appears you haven't just cut it out, the colour of the bird has changed... sooo, did you just change the saturation or the levels to make the black go pink?

Surprisingly...no.

Look up non-destructive image editing. I'm using basic masking techniques to isolate the bird.

My process for this image, load it up, hit 'W' for quick selection tool. Click on the black. Then press 'q' for quick mask mode, then hit 'b' for the brush tool. Then I can use 'x' to switch from using foreground and background colour which should be white and black respectively.

This effectively allows you to paint a mask onto the image (ie. just select the bird), because we used quick select to get us started we are using quick mask to clean things up. Painting black masks out image data, painting white restores it. You can attain various effects and qualities by changing brush settings.

The primary advantage of masks is, you are not destroying the image (ie. non destructive). You can simply hit a button to get everything back, this is a very good workflow to get into the habit of.

I did it pretty hastily for demo purposes but its a simple technique to get the knack of which has a host of applications.

Once you're done 'painting' your mask, hit 'q' to exit quick mask mode and then you have your refined selection. Hit the 'add layer mask' at the bottom of the layers window and then you can pretty much start fiddling.

EDIT: The "Pixel Perfect" crap above is an example of what-not-to-do, its a destructive editing technique.

 

[SourChipmunk]

EDIT: The "Pixel Perfect" crap above is an example of what-not-to-do, its a destructive editing technique.

I would normally use masking as well (love it!), but this one in particular didn't have a need for it.

 

[nuttyprot]

Area selector? Do you mean the "quick selection tool?"

Yep sorry could not remember the name of the tool.

 

[Buchanan0204]

I would normally use masking as well (love it!), but this one in particular didn't have a need for it.

Very impressed with your effort!! How long did it take you?

 

[Skillmister]

Depends on the photo. Often can do most of it with magic wand then some cleaning up with lasso or box select