Removing backgrounds
If you have a photo and want to remove the background from around the main object of the picture what techniques/programs do you use?
If you have a photo and want to remove the background from around the main object of the picture what techniques/programs do you use?
Megan posted this at 13:21 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Photoshop has quite a few options. I personally prefer using the magnetic lasso to get a decent selection and then use quick mask to fix it up.
Some would recommend using the pen tool to do the same thing. You could also try the Image > extract tool which doesn't always do a great job.
That's all I can think of right now
Megan
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The Webmistress posted this at 13:25 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,586 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
& if you don't have photoshop!!??
Megan posted this at 13:50 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Which programs do you have? I'm *guessing* that Fireworks probably doesn't have a whole lot, if any, options for this sort of thing. Paint Shop Pro should. I'm pretty sure that they do have a magnetic lasso in there but I'm not sure about quick mask.
Megan
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The Webmistress posted this at 13:55 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,586 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
At the moment Fireworks, Fireworks or Fireworks! My pc dosen't like Photoshop for some reason and I can never get it to work
Suzanne posted this at 18:14 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
There are a few techniques, let me fire up the iBook and see what I can do.
The lasso is a nice one. Basically, anything that will help you remove most of the background with one stroke (using masks) is ideal.
I'll get back to you in a few minutes.
Suzanne posted this at 18:16 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
http://www.macromedia.com/support/fireworks/effects/masking/
in the meantime, a tutorial on masking in Fireworks.
Suzanne posted this at 18:36 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,507 posts
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http://www.wiltshiret.fsnet.co.uk/GraphicsClass/Transparency.html talks about how masking is slightly different in Fireworks.
From a boo around Google, it seems that this isn't something normally done in Fireworks? At least not enough for there to be a specific tutorial for it (unlike most other graphics applications). But the capability is there (magic wand, adding to a selection, et cetera).
I'd use the lasso to select around as much as possible, then clean up with the eraser with an anti-aliased edge.
***
I used the lasso tool, then went to the modify menu, and the marquee and inverted the marquee, then deleted the main chunk of the background. Then I used the magic wand to get the little pieces, and the lasso for the rest. I don't know if there is a faster way.
Corel's PhotoPaint has a Paint on Mask feature which is really nice, you can paint out the background using a Clip Mask. Maybe the Fireworks board at Macromedia would have more tips, suggestions.
The Webmistress posted this at 20:01 — 19th June 2002.
She has: 5,586 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Thanks for your suggestions
niqueco posted this at 06:39 — 21st June 2002.
They have: 3 posts
Joined: May 2002
The Gimp is a free software Photoshop clone. There's a windows version of it too. I've found a screenshot of it too =).
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