Remove BG From Image?

[TheBlackDahlia]

Hey guys, I need help removing a BG (see image below). I've never been good with this stuff, so if you could give me a detailed explanation on how to do it, and even give it a run through for me so if I have questions I can refer to it, it'd be very very much appreciated it. Thanks.

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/518/81908lg1qb.jpg


I'm using Photoshop CS2.

[danedawg99]

this is probably the easiest way I know. (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/blrbps_4abfly.htm)

[(brackets)]

I would use the pen tool (as above) for high res output but depending on the result you require maybe give the Extract Filter a try or even the old background eraser ( a bit dodgy but quick for low res).

Tute for extract filter. http://www.designertoday.com/tabindex-16/tabId-19/itemid-1312/DesktopDefault.aspx

[TheBlackDahlia]

I tried the extract filter again and it turned out really bad.

[(brackets)]

Oh well... Some people love it and use it a lot and others don't - I'm an 'other' who uses the pen tool - but then everyone is different so thought I'd suggest it.

Another quick and easy is to majic wand and delete it then zoom right in and erase around the edges with a small soft round brush (the blurred ones) to tidy up the pixels.
Rather than draw around it I hold down shift as I click to the next point which actually deletes in a 'straight' line but gives a smoother line between the points and you just increase the steps around the curves. If you stuff up just undo as you go.

[tZ]

Brackets has the right idea... either use the magic wand or pen tool.

That is what I would suggest.

You could use quick mask mode but, that may limit the quality of your edge control.

With what your doing I would suggest the magic wand.

Your background is merly a opaque fill of the same hue.

So it would be quite easy to just select it with the magic wand and delete it out. However, you may run into intercepts of color between the figure and ground. In which case you can't get around that promblem then it would be best to trace.

Ultimatly tracing is more so going to give the image a more crisp and clear clipping, but the time involved maybe unworth it or uneeded for what you wish to accomplish.

[PrintDriver]

Check out Danedawg's tute link.
Because of the multi hue background that in some areas is the same as the skin tone, simple extract or magic wand probably won't do it for you. You're gonna have to create your own clipping path.

What is your final use? That would drive the answer to how picky you have to be in your selections and whether you actually use a clipping path or erase the background.

And if you have the ClubAnita.com gig, I'm jealous!

[jlknauff]

I always just copy it to a new layer & erase everything else by hand.

[cjoe]

I always just copy it to a new layer & erase everything else by hand.

thats a little labourious. I would have said quickmask would have done the trick in this case.

1. select colour range
2. save it as an alpha channel
3. use levels to fix all your semitransparent areas in your mask, make your blacks and whites solid.
4. use a brush to fine tune the mask
5. apply the mask

Edit: i actually gave this a go, and it was more difficult than i thought. The image quality is quite poor so its very hard to fine tune your mask. I did find the problems that PD mentioned i.e. the skin tones and the background bleed together. So yeah a clipping mask is going to work best for this application.

[(brackets)]

Forget to mention with the majic wand that you will need to drop the "tolerance" down to avoid it picking up any pink on your lady. Trial a low number to start with (say 5) and work your way up until you are happy. I got up to 20 with no probs.

[PrintDriver]

Even 2 didn't work with the wand. I picked up hair and the skin on the right arm. Don't know how you got up to 20.
I even tried the channels trick. It's just too close.

[TheBlackDahlia]

Even 2 didn't work with the wand. I picked up hair and the skin on the right arm. Don't know how you got up to 20.
I even tried the channels trick. It's just too close.Yeah I got the same thing, I dunno what that other guy did.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Zoom in close and start making a clipping path with the pen tool. When you're done, convert the path to a selection. Feather the selection 0.5 pixels to make the edges more natural and less severe. Make a new layer via copy. Put your new background in the middle. For people with hair, I usually add a mask layer to the clipped person, then with airbrush set at like 15% opacity, I'll manually add a slight mask to the edges of the hair to make it slightly transparent in areas - makes it look more natural.

Use the pen tool, anything else doesn't give you the level of control to do the best job possible. Unless you're just looking to do a halfway decent job, or are in a hurry, then what everyone else said. Could take an hour or two doing what I'm suggesting.

[cjoe]

Zoom in close and start making a clipping path with the pen tool. When you're done, convert the path to a selection. Feather the selection 0.5 pixels to make the edges more natural and less severe.

good point.

[TheBlackDahlia]

I got it. Only problem is now I can't come up with any good christmas-themed bg's for it. Where should I post to see what others can do with it?

[jlknauff]

Um...aren't you supposed to be the designer?

[ChargerBill]

The problem with quickmasks will be range of color input. For example, on the inside of her thigh the pink background is actually reflecting on her skin... The pen tool would be best, but I would suggest feathering the edge a bit after creating the selection. If the edges are too hard she will look masked and it will look cheesy. I also agree that mask mode could work well, if you have the patience. You will want your brush to have a very slight softness..again for a soft edge effect. You will need to reconcile the reflection of pink on her skin because it will be more noticeable when she is placed on a different colored BG.

BTW: This is a great example of why most photos needing post-production work and BG color flexibility are taken against a white backdrop...