View Full Version : removing the background
DVX100Shooter
11-18-2005, 01:39 AM
Is there a tutorial out there that teaches you how to remove the background from an image? I would want to cut a person or object out of the image. DO I have to be working on a transparent background? I sort of know how to do it using the lasso tool but the end result is not nice! LOL! So I need some sort of instruction on how to do it with success.
J.R. Hudson
11-18-2005, 01:44 AM
Hook us up with a grab will ya?
Jack Daniel Stanley
11-18-2005, 04:10 AM
try the magnetic lasso
try the magic wand
try the regular lasso
but when you use them exp with have the edge feathered 1 or a few pixels depending oon the resolution / size of your material and that will help smooth the cut
as far as the background it only has to be transparent if you want to output whatever you cut out on a transparent background
http://frenchquarterfeatures.com/johnhead.png
CaptainMench
11-18-2005, 04:53 AM
If you have CS the extract filter works GREAT!!!
CaptM
Matt Grunau
11-18-2005, 07:52 AM
Is there a tutorial out there that teaches you how to remove the background from an image? I would want to cut a person or object out of the image. DO I have to be working on a transparent background? I sort of know how to do it using the lasso tool but the end result is not nice! LOL! So I need some sort of instruction on how to do it with success.
THere are a few ways to do this, by my advice would be to use the layer mask. Layer masks allow you to "paint" out what you don't want, without erasing. click on the layer you are working (if it is the background and locked, make a copy) and click on the button that is a white circle inside of a square at the bottom of your layers pallet, second from the left.
You can go the route of using the marquee tools, and if you do, add a feather to them. Draw a selection around your foreground object, and depending on its size, and the resolution of the picture, use a feather from the Selection menu, and give it a feather. then, invert you selection and hit delete two or three times. this will erase the background and give you a softend edge and will help you blend your selection with whatever you want to put it into.
I would never use anything other than a layer mask, as you are not actually erasing anything, just defining in black and white (and 254 shades of gray) what you can see. That way, you never erase anything (which makes it gone for good) and can paint "back" parts of an image at any time.
You really do not need to ever erase anything, because once its gone, you cant get it back. With a layer mask, not only can you paint out an object, but you have all the uses of brushes (hard edged, soft edged, and custom) to remove the background, but also 256 shades of opacity.
DVX100Shooter
11-19-2005, 11:30 AM
Rapier,
I followed what you said about using a Layer Mask. I did exactly as you stated but I cannot get rid of the "marching ants". I hit delete several times and nothing happened. However off to the right side of the screen I could see where the background was not there in the little box in the Layer tab.
Do I select reveal all too? I selected that and maybe that is why its still showing my background. I need to figure out how to remove the "marching ants" once I made a box around a selection. Choosing CUT didnt do anything.
Matt Grunau
11-19-2005, 04:39 PM
Rapier,
I followed what you said about using a Layer Mask. I did exactly as you stated but I cannot get rid of the "marching ants". I hit delete several times and nothing happened. However off to the right side of the screen I could see where the background was not there in the little box in the Layer tab.
Do I select reveal all too? I selected that and maybe that is why its still showing my background. I need to figure out how to remove the "marching ants" once I made a box around a selection. Choosing CUT didnt do anything.
With the layer mask, you dont need to select anything.
Oh, and in the pic where it says "this is where you paint" you dont actually paint in the little box, you paint on your canvas and the layer mask thumbnail shows the results. I wrote "this is where you paint" because you have to select the little box when you want to enter the layer mask portion of that layer.
Take a peek:
http://www.paramm.com/LM.jpg
and then, lets reveal some:
http://www.paramm.com/LM1.jpg
When you paint in your layer mask, you hide or show whatever you want, based on the shade of gray you paint.
DVX100Shooter
11-19-2005, 05:29 PM
WOW I have never had answer explained like that before! That was way cool!
Matt Grunau
11-19-2005, 06:15 PM
WOW I have never had answer explained like that before! That was way cool!
Good. I hope that clears up some things. Layer masks are awsome, and when you use them you can save time and maintain a butt load of options.
:beer:
commalot
11-20-2005, 01:23 AM
I am definitely going to check out layer masks. I've been messing around with Photoshop for a couple years but never bothered to learn all the tools. I'll spend an hour cutting out images with the lasso and then fine tuning the edges with the clone tool and eraser.
Matt Grunau
11-20-2005, 06:52 AM
You can certainly do it that way cam, ther number one rule in Photoshop (and no, it isn't dont' talk about Photoshop) is there are always 15 ways to do anything.
I tout Layer Masks because of their ease and flexibility. Try them out. If you like 'em, use 'em, if you like your own method/s do that. There is not "right" way, only what eases the workflow, and for me, that's Layer Masks, Blending modes, & Adjustment Layers.
petelms
11-20-2005, 10:17 AM
Hey, I was also in need of this kind of tutor! Thanks, Rapier, very nice. :thumbsup:
commalot
11-20-2005, 11:32 AM
As long as we're on the subject I have a question. If your using the lasso tool to select something it is much easier to zoom in on that part of the picture. If you zoom in too far part of the selection is out of the frame. Is there any way to shift the picture around while clicking down on the lasso? I've tryed the arrow keys but they won't work while holding on the lasso.
Sure is. Just press the spacebar and it will temporarily switch to the hand tool so you can shift the canvas around. Just release it and you're back to lasso. Very handy.
MattC
11-20-2005, 12:04 PM
Pressing the spacebar (and holding it down) turns your active tool into a hand that can move the image. When you release the spacebar, you are back to your tool.
DVX100Shooter
11-20-2005, 12:32 PM
So far it worked! Someone else also told me to choose the bottom layer and rename it and unlock it so when I go back to the upper layer to press delete several times I would end up with the part of the image I wanted to remove be gone....I tried it and it worked thanks to the both of you!
Matt Grunau
11-20-2005, 12:40 PM
Sure is. Just press the spacebar and it will temporarily switch to the hand tool so you can shift the canvas around. Just release it and you're back to lasso. Very handy.
Also, when you are creating something with the Marquee tools, when you click and drag, if you do not release the mouse button, pressing space will let you move the selection. Also also, when using the Lasso tools, you can move your selection by simply clicking in the middle of it after you form it.
petlems: Yer welcome.
commalot
11-20-2005, 01:41 PM
I just tryed the space bar trick and it works great. Since I joined this forum about a month ago I've learned more about Photoshop, Premier, audio and lighting, than I have in the past 5 years. I'm turning into a DVX User junkie.
MattC
11-20-2005, 03:05 PM
LOL! What other board can you go to where you get the answer from two folks at the same time!!
Jack Daniel Stanley
11-20-2005, 03:09 PM
HAHA ! What other board is there where at the same time you can get the answer from two individuals!
as rapier states so well, definitely use layer masks. break your dependence on the lasso tool - it isn't accurate enough and making tweaks isn't as easy. layer masks give you the most flexibility and control.
learning how to cut a mask using the pen tool (aka "clipping path") is also a good skill to learn but perhaps not widely used in video (print, hell yeah). the advantage here is that a path is editable at any time and takes up virtually no space (a few kilobytes at most) in the file while a mask layer or alpha channel takes up many more megabytes. of course, a path is a hard-edged selection by default so you have to think about that, too.
you can also get quick rough masks by using a Select > Color Range and then refine as a layer mask - saves a TON of time!
Or press "Q" and enter Quick Mask mode and just paint your mask...
yes, 15 different ways...
DVX100Shooter
12-06-2005, 01:40 PM
I need to get a photoshop book for dummies or something because this is not making any sense to me. I thought I had it figured out and I have wasted several hours the last 2 days trying to remove the background from a photo! This is ticking me the off that its taking forever! I am following all the directions that have been posted and it is not working. I have edited some complex stuff before but for some stupid reason I can't figure out how to do something that sounds to be so simple!
Masks are a very underused featuer of Photoshop. Quick Mask is one of my favorite/ most used tools.
Filmjunkie677
12-06-2005, 05:36 PM
I need to get a photoshop book for dummies or something because this is not making any sense to me. I thought I had it figured out and I have wasted several hours the last 2 days trying to remove the background from a photo! This is ticking me the off that its taking forever! I am following all the directions that have been posted and it is not working. I have edited some complex stuff before but for some stupid reason I can't figure out how to do something that sounds to be so simple!
Me too!!!