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How to make background black?
Sep 30, 2011 11:16:25   #
sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
How can I replace an entire background with plain black using Photoshop Elements 7?

Thanks for your help.

Sherrill

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Oct 1, 2011 09:43:52   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
sjbegres wrote:
How can I replace an entire background with plain black using Photoshop Elements 7?

Thanks for your help.

Sherrill


Select what you don't want black. Select Inverse. Using the paint bucket pout the selected area with black chosen for your color choice.

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Oct 1, 2011 09:55:38   #
Bigdaver
 
I prefer the Pen Tool. Take time to learn to work the curves and points. Learn to make a selection while saving your pen path.
Learn about feathering a selection. Here is a picture I made removing the background, with a 2 pixel feather to make it look natural.



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Oct 1, 2011 10:03:20   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
Bigdaver wrote:
I prefer the Pen Tool. Take time to learn to work the curves and points. Learn to make a selection while saving your pen path.
Learn about feathering a selection. Here is a picture I made removing the background, with a 2 pixel feather to make it look natural.


Nice gradient fill. There are a hundred ways to make selections. The pen tool works with straight lines. Try that with frizzy hair and you might have problems. Still, Nice photo.

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Oct 1, 2011 12:13:45   #
sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
Thanks for your response. Which tool do you recommend for selecting. As I am sure you can tell, I am new to this.

Sherrill

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Oct 1, 2011 12:30:24   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
sjbegres wrote:
Thanks for your response. Which tool do you recommend for selecting. As I am sure you can tell, I am new to this.

Sherrill


Since you didn't post a photo it depends on the complexity of the picture you need edited.

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Oct 1, 2011 16:17:20   #
sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
Sorry. Here it is.

Sherrill



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Oct 1, 2011 19:27:37   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
sjbegres wrote:
Sorry. Here it is.

Sherrill


I found the quick selection tool the fastest, taking less than 10 seconds to make a near perfect selection. After making that selection select inverse and fill the area with black color painted with the paint bucket. Touch up around the baby's edge with a black paint brush. Now selection of the background is is with the magic wand set to a tolerance of zero. Replace with any other background you wish.

Original
Original...

Enhanced
Enhanced...

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Oct 1, 2011 22:38:34   #
agej1001
 
bobmielke wrote:
sjbegres wrote:
Sorry. Here it is.

Sherrill


I found the quick selection tool the fastest, taking less than 10 seconds to make a near perfect selection. After making that selection select inverse and fill the area with black color painted with the paint bucket. Touch up around the baby's edge with a black paint brush. Now selection of the background is is with the magic wand set to a tolerance of zero. Replace with any other background you wish.


@bob Nice job! and Sherrill awe cute baby! i miss mine from when they were that little!

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Oct 2, 2011 01:36:54   #
jw32003 Loc: Oklahoma
 
Bob....Nice job with an easy explanation.

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Oct 2, 2011 11:57:20   #
sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
You are soooo good. That is exactly what I want to do. Thank you so much for the advice. I am sure mine won't turn out as good as yours, but practice makes perfect.

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Oct 2, 2011 14:08:25   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
sjbegres wrote:
You are soooo good. That is exactly what I want to do. Thank you so much for the advice. I am sure mine won't turn out as good as yours, but practice makes perfect.


Just take your time and zoom in as close as you can.

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Oct 2, 2011 15:03:16   #
sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
Will do, Bob. Thanks.

Sherrill

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Oct 2, 2011 17:38:27   #
Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras
 
Some of you folks are remarkably good! I don't even know what the quick select tool is....but I do use the magic wand a lot. I'm using CS-4.

I need a lot more practice, I see..... :oops:

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Oct 2, 2011 19:54:55   #
bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR
 
Lmarc wrote:
Some of you folks are remarkably good! I don't even know what the quick select tool is....but I do use the magic wand a lot. I'm using CS-4.

I need a lot more practice, I see..... :oops:


I believe the quick select tool is a sub choice next to the magic wand. It is in CS5. I don't remember my CS4 days.

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