Topic awaiting preservation: the best image extraction technique (Page 1 of 1)

I know tutorials are a dime a dozen on this. I've done image extraction in several ways in photoshop. But I just can't find on to suit my fancy. They all seem like such tedious, drawn out processes. Is their a simpler method out there that you use? If not what seems to be the best method that maintains the quality of the image (less halo etc) Just grasping for thoughts.

The best results i got was an two-step method but i am not shure what i exactly did.
It was something like using the Magnetic lasso tool (experiment with its options) for an quick selction.
Then when the selection was closed save the selection as path.
Finally (as i remember) i used the pen tools in it's different form together with the zoom tool to tweak the path.
In the end save the path as selection.
When you got used to either the pen tool or the magnetic lasso (with its options right)you could do image extraction very fast.

It's a looong time since i did this so i could be completly wrong.

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Support Justice for Pat Richard

Generally I make a large selection with the polyline lasso, then I refine it with the zoom, and by adding/substracting some selections made with the polyline or freehand lasso. The accuracy of the resulting selections is quite ok and it's extremely easy and quick to do.

Bud depending on the picture, the methods based on chanels explained on GN works rather well too.

Go with the pentool :-] There are many ways to get rid of backgrounds but I can't explain them in english :-(

I usually start with the lasso, for a loose selection, which seems to be the general idea, and then go to quick mask mode and with zoom i paint my selection: Z, D, B, X...and paint away..X, paint, X paint, Q, ctrl-c, ctr-n, ctr-v :)))


Curiously yours, crip

It all depends on what type of image you are working with and what you want to extract. If the image has a fairly neutral background and a well defined edge, i ind the best and quickest way id the extraction tool. You can also use the Colour Selection Tool to do a good job. The pen tool with 1 1px feather also works well if you zoom in on a image.

What language do you speak Xdreamer? How about writing it down in your language, I'm sure we'll find someone to translate... I'm pretty curious about your explanation! Give it a go...

I've found that the pen tool in addition to crip's method works most efficiently for me. The pen tool to mask large areas, and a small hard brush to work on the fine detail.

I used it for this mini-tutorial: Cutlass Photo-manip (Warning: large download)



(Edited by silence on 01-19-2005 18:34)

I liked:
http://www.gurusnetwork.com/tutorial/replace_background/
and
(let me see if I find it)
http://www.tiemdesign.com/tabindex-16/tabId-19/itemid-1312/DesktopDefault.aspx
is not the one I was looking for, but it's the same tecnich (or however you spell that)

______________
that naked guy

I prefer the method of a rough cut with the poly-lasso, followed up with a precise pass with the same tool, then going to the eraser. Depending on the scale of the cutout and the aliassing situation. Ofcourse a large extraction woth lots of transparency takes a large amuont of time ;-)
The first rough cut makes for a nice preview to keep moral high... Also you can preview the problem areas a bit. Also important to select small areas, cut away the background and select a new area because of unintended deselecting. Better for the bloodpressure.

The PS extraction tools have let me down too often, pressing buttons and losing all work, etc...

HersenSpinsels.nl

quote:

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...then going to the eraser.

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My ears! My ears are burning!
I think my head is going to explode.
Please get out of the habit of using eraser and into the habit of using a layer mask.

Nothing wrong with using the eraser.

...except that it can't be undone contrary to a layer mask.

I got the duct tape around my head just in time. I now look like Jackal from Fist of the North Star.

Quick romp through FAQ for some golden oldies:
How do I up the opacity of a layer?
How not to be destructive with data and save your sanity.

quote:

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...except that it can't be undone contrary to a layer mask.

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I understand this philosophy and advocate it sure but I almost want to scream everytime I hear someone advocate a layer mask over a "more destructive" method. Tell you what, copy the layer, hide the original, *erase* on the copy, if you screw up, the original's there! BOO!

Blind faith layer mask advocate elitist's must all die!!! /me stabs poi and warjournal

Rants aside =) warjournal and steve have this covered to perfection, gracefully so, backdoors all in place =)

Plus, if you extracting the image and don't care about the background, then there's really no reason why you can't use the eraser.


*stabs mabers*

There's only one person around here that does the stabbin', buddy!

quote:

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JKMabry said:

quote:...except that it can't be undone contrary to a layer mask.

I understand this philosophy and advocate it sure but I almost want to
scream everytime I hear someone advocate a layer mask over a "more
destructive" method. Tell you what, copy the layer, hide the original,
*erase* on the copy, if you screw up, the original's there! BOO!

Blind faith layer mask advocate elitist's must all die!!! /me stabs poi and warjournal

Rants aside =) warjournal and steve have this covered to perfection, gracefully so, backdoors all in place =)

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Exactly.

quote:

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There's only one person around here that does the stabbin', buddy!

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I had reservations indeed and tried different things, a poke, a punch in the nose, it all seemed too violent. I'll hire out you for my next stab.



edit: misspelled "too" ack

(Edited by JKMabry on 03-22-2005 21:04)

Allways happy to contribute to violent discussions ;-)

I do use masking when I'm not yet decided what part of an image should be visible (say when using a small part of an image) or when using complex transparency on an image... In the above example I was reffering to the pretty girl that should be seperated from her background/husband to be pasted in the picture of your room, etc...

Is one permitted to use an eraser on a layermask? ;-)

HersenSpinsels.nl

you can just turn on quick mask mode and paint away. it has to have a good resolution, though for it to work properly

I think it all depends on the background. I mostly use Quick Mask Mode nice simple a bit lengthy but I can do it in detail.

This is my Signature ----- Laughter is not an option... it is a motive!

Signature BEGINS NOW!!

. <-- is next to the arrow

quote:

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you can just turn on quick mask mode and paint away. it has to have a good resolution, though for it to work properly

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This is the usual method I use. I go slightly larger than I need then trim off the extra with a regular mask. It gives more control on the edges.

If the resolution is so-so, I use the extract filter. I have never gotten great results from the pen tool even though that is the recommended method in most photoshop books I have seen.


Life's too short to put up with bad art.

The method I prefer, and find the easiest is as follows:

-Set the history state of the image.
-Use the Extract filter in PS.
-Then come in with the eraser & history brush to do the detail/clean-up work. That way, it's sort of a non-destructive use of the eraser.

Anyways,

-Me.

me. not you.