PatrickTheCop Loc: Spartanburg, SC

Thanks, I will and sorry to hear of the loss to your community!

PatrickTheCop Loc: Spartanburg, SC

You are right ernie. I haven't learned how to do that yet. I shall start trying to learn it as it would be a vast improvement.

Steinmetz Loc: Oregon based

Although we do not have the luxury to plan ahead -- it is nice to know what kind of end product picture one wants when going to composite pictures.

One is able to extract an image ( selection ) from a background or delete the background from the "image, which we shall call a selection " that you want to include in another picture...

I use adobes photoshop CS5extended --
there are different tools in this application to create a "Selection" ( that object which you are trying to isolate ),
then you can use refine edge dialogue box if necessary, and thereafter
one may also remove any fringe on edges from that layer.

It is possible to 'select' a selection on a background that closely matches, but it is difficult. If one knows he is going to create selections -- it helps to position the object or person or a background in contrast to the object being photographed, secondly position the object so all of the object or person can be extracted ( not hidden behind blankets etc ). For example I had a model acting like she was petting a deer or riding a horse, and then I select her and composite her with a deer or a horse... Planning ahead makes for realistic composite pictures.


You have different software "tools" to make selections. Some you have more control over than others.
The pen tool in CS5 can create selections very well in combination with the magic wand tools. I do lots of compositing ( working with selections and putting them on backgrounds , for example a couple holding hands walking in a studio or outside on grassy lawn might end up walking down a railroad track or walking in a wheat field --- ) Also a tool not used by many is the magic eraser tool when creating selections.... this has saved me much time, maybe 20 minutes versus 4 hours on a project that I or others would not have otherwise attempted to make a selection of in the first place.

I have tried many selection tools including OnOne etc... I have their complete suites of software plug-ins -- I have decided to use less plug-ins and stick with what the main program CS5 can do

I find it better to take time to get the selection right the first time and then one is able to save and reuse in different pictures, depending on what you are doing. AND remember you can sometimes "clone" in parts that are missing or where the hair is jagged, like on the cat... creativity is a KEY in this work.

Have fun and take time to walk away from the computer... save your heart.

nschaffel

This was done quickly with PS6 Quick Selection Tool and Refine Edge.

davis

I used PSPX4 and the object extractor tool. Cut out and filled in a dark grey background. Pasted as new layer and this is the result.
About a 10 min job.

Davis

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

A correction if I may... I tried to read all the posts, but have to leave.
I am suspecting you do not actually have the full Photoshop version. Those are now CS4, CS5, and CS6. Instead I think you have Photoshop Elements 9, which is a lesser version of full Photoshop.

Not that that makes a big difference for many of the responses, but it will help somewhat if you make that distinction when you ask about it. PSE9 would have run under $100, while any full version of PHOTOSHOP would have cost at a minimum with an educational discount about $300. In it's full retail pricing it is about $600. That, I mention only to help you make the distinction.

That said, PSE (elements) will do about 97.5% of what the full Photoshop, such as the current CS6 will do. It's just that it's so much cooler to say, "Well, I use CS5 or CS6!!!"

Naturally because of the price difference, the full photoshop certainly has some features for very advanced photo manipulation and professional use. However, Elements is no slouch, and will certainly do the tasks you are after at this point.

Probably my biggest point here is that you will get more appropriate answers if you refer to it as Elements. Furthermore there is a dedicated forum that will give you even more direct answers. It is www.elementsvillage.com. It even seems to be monitored somewhat by some very technical Photoshop Elements people.

So, my suggestion (and it is only a suggestion) is that IF you have PSE 9.... you would be ahead to refer to it as Elements 9, and drop the reference to Photoshop. If you were to sign up for some full Photoshop (CS..) classes, and you in fact have Elements, the classes would be useless for you.

Just my nickels worth if you have not already made the distinction.

Element is a worthy and capable product.

And as you are finding out, most of the references to Plugins will lead you down a path to much more $$$. The people who take the lead from Adobe and write these plugins, must be laughing all the way to the bank. I would bet someone could show you how to do what you want to do with JUST the Elements program.

I have never paid for or used a plugin, but I am not a real fan of Post Processing. I prefer to take pictures that don't lead me to a chair in front of a computer on a sunny day, when I could be outdoors with a camera.

Good luck.

Meltzer

There are no shortcuts in this situation. The pen tool is the only way to achieve the desired result.
It takes a long time... and it may not be worth it.... especially with fur.

I shot this cat photo in my studio on white plexi... with two large softboxes and a background light underneath the plexiglass.

So... adjustments enabled the background to be sent to pure white without using the pen tool.

Rustybucket Loc: England

Hi Guypix. A fairly simple way t make the background less intrusive is to make a copy layer in PS. Blur that layer to max with Gaussian Blur. On that same layer apply a layer mask (hit the little icon at bottom of layers palett that looks like little pingpong ball. Make sure you click on the mask so it's active then use you paintbrush tool (which should have changed to black and white for foreground and background colours) to paint away the blurred layer where you want to see the cat). Then flatten layers and continue as normal. I've attached an example done in just that way (apart from a little levels). If the blurred layer is not blurred enough you can run the Gaussian Blur filter again for a smoother effect. I find it's better than trying to add a completely new background as sometime the subject can look a bit "stuck on". See what you think. Hope this is of help.

Before Layer Mask


After Layer Mask and Levels

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Thank you for sharing. Topaz Remask seems a very useful tool along with their long list of other varied applications.
Are these stand along applications or add-ons to other software?

ProAmpics Loc: Penna

Saichez!
Thanks for your input.
Yes, I realize I used PS9 in my explanation. It is all that I use.
I know the CS5 & 6 are out there and are more advanced.
I don't need or intend to buy it or plugins. Your nickles worth was money well spent. I appreciate your knowledge and advice. I'll do the best I can with Elements 9.

Regards,

Guypix

BUDDY36 Loc: Tennessee

Guypix...the last thing that a police officer wants to hear is that you just had a police officer shot and killed. You may want to think about that next time. I am sure you meant no harm.

Buddy36 former police officer.

ProAmpics Loc: Penna

Thanks Rustybucket!

I will try your suggestions. Thanks for your input.
Every little bit helps.

Guypix

ProAmpics Loc: Penna

Thanks for your information. I will think more carefully next time.
I have a lot of respect for all those that protect us.
My first cousin was a policemen in my township. Great guy.

Best regards,

Guypix

artistwally Loc: Scotland

A free download "Seam Carving GUI" vanishes items then and pulls the background in to "hide" the space.
Artistwally

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Seam-Carving GUI Review

http://seam-carving-gui.en.softonic.com/

A while ago I heard about an amazing new technology for resizing images that was aware of the actual photo's contents when applying the new size to the image (see video on the 'Extras' tab above).

This resizing technology sounded so incredible that I was excited to see it had been ported it to Windows and given a graphical user interface. The results, however, are far from perfect: in fact, I found Seam Carving GUI to be extremely disappointing.

The program doesn't require installation and looks easy to use. Load the image, select the area you want to keep or remove when resizing, then select the target size. But problems don't take long to appear: firstly, selecting the area would be much easier if you could use a real selection tool, rather than a clunky-feeling brush tool. What's more, the program doesn't include predefined resizing templates, nor does it preserve the aspect ratio. Finally, there are some options and settings on Seam Carving GUI that I have no idea how to use and – even worse – are not properly documented.

Unfortunately this means that during the whole testing process for Seam Carving GUI I couldn't get a single photo to be resized properly: they were all badly distorted, as if I had applied a wave effect instead of resizing them.

I definitely hope the algorithm is improved and a Help section is added to future versions of Seam Carving GUI. So far, I can only say I expected much more from this program.

Seam Carving GUI is a sadly disappointing resizing tool that tries to apply a extraordinary content-aware algorithm with poor results.