Pen Tool

[Lofty1967]

Hi Guys
Could someone help to advise me on how I can make a 'clean' cut out of this car to put on another image, when I use the pen tool the results are questionable at very best, I cannot see where I am placing the selection due to the lightness of the selection line, help much appreciated.
Regards
Lofty

[Tony W]

Your choice of Pen tool seem an ideal choice for this subject.

You may find it helpful in seeing where to place your points by duplicating the image and viewing the channels palette while working with the pen tool you can switch between channels selecting the best one for the clearest view where you are working. If needed you could alter the image using Curves or Levels on the dup to allow a better view.

[creativeretouch]

Well, Adobe is busy thinking about their new business model instead of improving basic tools ... I tried to find the way how to change the color of this path while working but I wasn't succesful. Maybe it is my fault, who knows?

[Lofty1967]

Thanks for your replies, I will certainly try the advise, not sure what to do after if this does not work, I might have to give up.
Lofty

[Lofty1967]

As much as I hate to admit this I have given up!!!!!

[Tony W]

Sorry to hear that Lofty. I have to say that of all the tools in PS this is the one that I find needs lots of time and practice to get right and I still have difficulty with at times.

An alternative that may work for you is to use the quick selection tool to select the car. It will likely pick up more information than you want but if you then copy to a new layer you can start again selecting the bits you do not want to appear.

creativeretouch, its certainly not just you AFAIK there is no way to actually change the path colour while working. Searching for the answer reveals many asking for this facility. What a shame Adobe could not have given us the option to work in the foregroung/background colours - still maybe CS6 or 7 or 8

[Chain]

That's odd. I see no problem; the pen tool works really well on this photo, doesn't take much time and the path is to me clearly visible when constructing the path (remember to zoom in!). Maybe I'm not understanding what the problem is?

After the path is complete, I would use it as a vector mask and put a solid color background behind it (similar to what you intend to use it on) do find where it needs improving.

Untitled-2.png

As with all Photoshop's tools has the best visibility in dark or light areas, and becomes harder to spot in the middle grays, but it's not a problem here...

[Tony W]

Very nice example Chain, but you forgot the windows

[Nasturtium]

the path color can't be changed according to this;
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2635636

BUT you could either-

a- invert the image first before cutting it out
or
b- make an adjustment layer that increases the contrast in the whole image...making the transitions easier to see

HTH

- Nancy

[Lofty1967]

Hi Guys,
Chain, that is a great selection, can you forward me a quick e-mail on exactly how you got it so concise? (Like how fare you zoomed in etc etc)
It would be highly appreciated.
Lofty.

[Chain]

I zoomed in to 2-400%. Klick and drag to create a point (then hold alt to 'break' it if it is a corner). Click and drag where I want the next point. Click and drag where I want the next point. Click and drag where I want the next point. Click and drag where I want the next point.... You get the idea

One "curve" on the car requires about two points (see the image I uploaded to get an idea of where to place the points). Each handle stretch roughly 1/3 of the way to the next point (as a rule of thumb).

After making the entire path, I put it on a white background and deselected the mask (in the layers panel) so that I could see the result. If the edge was a bit off in places (e.g. 1 px of background showing), then I took the white selection tool and moved the points in a bit (use the arrow keys).

[creativeretouch]

http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/pentool/index.html

[Chain]

That tutorial tells you to click to make corner points, then go back to refine it into a curve. Useful to know you can do that, but to me that seems very slow as you could instead click-drag when creating each point to make it curved immediately. That would also give a lot fewer points to worry about... To select the frame in that tutorial i would have used min. 4 points - maybe up to 8 max if it was a bit irregular.

Other then that the tutorial was ok, and probably worth a try for beginners.

[SilvaFox]

Originally Posted by Lofty1967

Hi Guys
Could someone help to advise me on how I can make a 'clean' cut out of this car to put on another image, when I use the pen tool the results are questionable at very best, I cannot see where I am placing the selection due to the lightness of the selection line, help much appreciated.
Regards
Lofty

Photoshop Preferences>Performance>Advanced Settings

Check off the box "Anti-alias Guides and Paths"

Your lasso and pen tool will be (more) normal.

[hawkeye60]

Originally Posted by Chain

That tutorial tells you to click to make corner points, then go back to refine it into a curve. Useful to know you can do that, but to me that seems very slow as you could instead click-drag when creating each point to make it curved immediately. That would also give a lot fewer points to worry about... To select the frame in that tutorial i would have used min. 4 points - maybe up to 8 max if it was a bit irregular.

Other then that the tutorial was ok, and probably worth a try for beginners.

I agree, the oval in the tutorial should only take 4 points.

To the original poster, a vector mask from a path is the way to go, it's endlessly ajustable.

[Lofty1967]

Hi Guys,
Chain, I was wondering if you would give me your opinion of the cut out I have now made of this car, I took your advice and it seems to have worked, I had to go back to redo the whole car as when I did the lower front part I included the pavement in the car, I found this very difficult to edit 'on the fly' so any pointers towards advise would be greatly appreciated.
I also did not understand the term below?If the edge was a bit off in places (e.g. 1 px of background showing), then I took the white selection tool and moved the points in a bit (use the arrow keys).
Help always very well appreciated.
Lofty

[Chain]

The result looks perfect.

The part about refining, I just used the "direct selection tool" (icon of a white arrow) when fine-tuning/adjusting the path after I'm done creating it.

For editing "on the fly" I would try all the function keys (shift/ctrl/alt) and see what options they give you while using the pen tool (so you won't have to switch away from the pen tool and back - takes time). You can see the pointer change depending on function key and context.

[Lofty1967]

Hi Chain,
Many thanks again for your help.
Lofty

[Lofty1967]

Hi Guys,
Just wanted to get a bit more help on this picture, I have taken the car and the shadow out separately and put them into this park photograph, I think it still looks very fake but not sure how to improve on my results.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Lofty

[Repairman]

All the clues are in the original image Lofty, ie direction and strength of lighting will determine the shape and density of the shadow. You then need to remove the original building reflections from the car and replace it with foliage. An overall green tinge wouldn't go amiss but not in the hilites. Pay attention to the view through the glass and how the tyres 'sit' in the grass. Make sure the focus of the two images match. A few other details but that'll keep you busy for now - tricky job, so good luck.

[edbayani]

Try painting a blank layer with a soft brush and use the eyedroper tool to select the color of the side. do this to remove the unwanted reflections Use layer mask to remove the overlapping image that you painted and to show the door handles. select the windows and apply a gradient. you can also do the same for the hood.

[Chain]

To me it appears the perspective is different on the car and park photo. That looks a bit off. Perhaps if you can find (or take) a park photo that matches the original car image better?

Other then that, what repairman said.