Removing background from images

[Alex Ross]

Hi,

I am designing a catalog however the photos have a background, for
example the pictures are of shoes but i can see the table the shoe is
sitting on and the background behind the shoe, is there a way to cut
the shoes out in Photoshop so the background is removed?

Thanks

[colmo]

What photo editing software have you got? If you don't have anything decent, try the GIMP for free. Most editors will have a Magic Wand which allows you to select areas of relatively continuous colour (depending on how tight you set the threshold).

I presume these items weren't professionally photographed, as not having a contiguous background for catalogue shots is a schoolboy error.

[Workaholic]

You've mentioned you have photoshop so if you use the magic wand tool as mentioned or use the Extract tool in one of the image menus, you can shade in the areas to keep and those to delete.

[brammers]

If you can then it'll probably be easier to just take the photos again - blowing out a white background is one of the easiest things to do in photography. Why don't I give you an example?



Works for more than just products

Otherwise you can cut each image out using the magic wand or the lassoo, but it's going to be painful if you want a good job.

[moogle]

Use the Vector tool and make an outline of what you want to remain. ie if theres a circle you want to keep after removing the background make the outline of the circle, then right click on the outline and choose create vector mask. Using vector masks are good for complicated pictures and simple ones. You can always edit the mask and make it better if you wish. If it's something complicated like hair then maybe you should use a layer mask instead where you will have a 2nd white layer and on that layer where you paint black it makes the picture that the mask it attached to transparent in that exact area.

There should be tutorials on the net for you to follow. It's real easy after you have a go at it

HTH

[NeedMoarFarms]

Could always just erase the background using the erase tool, then zoom in and use a small brush to delete round the edges? It would take alot of patience (getting it really good can take a long while) and wouldn't look as good as just taking the photographs against a white backdrop.

[Bobster]

If you can then it'll probably be easier to just take the photos again - blowing out a white background is one of the easiest things to do in photography. Why don't I give you an example?

..

Works for more than just products

Otherwise you can cut each image out using the magic wand or the lassoo, but it's going to be painful if you want a good job.

if you want to get cleaver with the OP at least use a decent example

for catalogue work, use the pen tool to draw around the shoe then save the path in the path palette and set it to a clipping path with a flatness of 0.3 device pixels, convert to CMYK and save as JPG, TIFF or EPS.. XPress or InDesign will see the clipping path around the shoe and take the background out

[brammers]

if you want to get cleaver with the OP at least use a decent example

????

[Stoo]

I'm wondering how you get to be a designer for a catalogue without knowing the tools of your trade..

[Bobster]

????

you've still got background left over

[Saracen]

if you want to get cleaver with the OP at least use a decent example

????

It's for when you want a rather less subtle clipping path than using a scalpel.

[brammers]

you've still got background left over

Pedantic mode off please!

If you're talking about the couple of petals on the floor - yes I do.

If you're talking about still being able to see the paper then I've got monitor calibration issues - I'm completely whited out. I don't have access to a calibrator over here, I left it back home... Maybe have to fork out for one and sell it off.

[colmo]

Pedantic mode off please!

If you're talking about the couple of petals on the floor - yes I do.

If you're talking about still being able to see the paper then I've got monitor calibration issues - I'm completely whited out. I don't have access to a calibrator over here, I left it back home... Maybe have to fork out for one and sell it off.

I think he means the latter. A rather brutal treatment of the image reveals the problem areas:


When I viewed it in RawTherapee, the same areas shown here didn't flash with the highlights clipping warning - the inverse of the normal use of that tool. A number of ways to skin this particular cat.

[brammers]

But can you see any non-blown areas without screwing the histogram? If you can then I have a monitor problem - at present there's nothing to my naked eye that's a problem.

Guess I need to invest in another calibrator.

[kalniel]

But can you see any non-blown areas without screwing the histogram? If you can then I have a monitor problem - at present there's nothing to my naked eye that's a problem.

I can on my crappy office monitor - the area surrounding the petals, a patch above his head, and the shadow beneath him. It's mostly faint and unobtrusive, but the areas surrounding the petals/protection devices don't look very good.

[colmo]

I can on my crappy office monitor - the area surrounding the petals, a patch above his head, and the shadow beneath him. It's mostly faint and unobtrusive, but the areas surrounding the petals/protection devices don't look very good.

My monitor is calibrated, and that's what I can see too - the shadow behind his back is the most obvious part, whereas the purple blush above their heads can easily be dismissed as a trick of the eyes.

There's a grey smudge around the farthest right item above them...is that a condom packet?!