Selecting, Moving, Replacing.........HELP!

[fotofreak]

I know this has been talked about before, but I still am in need of serious help. What I need to do is take an item from one photo and place it in another. I need to do this without the item looking like a cutout or like it doesn't belong there. I want it to look like thats the way the photo was taken. I have tried masks, extraction, feathering etc...... Nothing I am doing seems to work. It has got to be my technique. If someone has a easy way to do this, please let me know. I have looked through all the tutorials and tried them exactly as they were written, but nothing. I am trying, but still not getting it. PLEASE HELP ME!

[sdubose99]

freak, could you post some examples of what you've tried in the past? Don't worry, you're among friends!

Scott

[kiska]

Have you tried making a copy layer of the image you want to place into another, move the copy layer on top of the other and erase unwanted areas out of top layer (the one you just moved)? kiska

[fotofreak]

I know I am among friends. I would post them for you to see, but in my frustration I deleted them. There was always part of the background from the image lifted or a halo around the image lifted and they never looked like they belonged in the photo. I have seen some very good examples when someone replaces the sky, but what if I want to add someone to the photo. When I try to take that person from one photo to another I get part of the background from the original photo or a halo around the person when placed into the new photo. This is the best I can explain it. I will try again and if it turn out BAD again I will post it. I just need a 'DUMB-DOWNED' explaination of how to achieve this.

[Hunter]

It would also help if you told people what application (and version) you're using.

[fotofreak]

I am using Photoshop 6 and I have also tried PSP 8. No luck with either one.

[grafx]

You need to be EXTREMELY anal-retentive
Well, at least I am ::grinz:: Use the pen tool to make a clipping path around the item you want to place in the new image. Use that zoom and get really, really close. Don't worry about the curves the first time around. Just get the basic shape. Then go in and add points, pulling on those bezier curves to outline your item. Leave a wide girth around items that will be "soft" like hair. You can go back in with the eraser and fix them later. Once done, go into paths and make a selection. Then go to select and inverse. Press delete. Your item should be by its lonesome. Now drop it into the new image. Use that zoom again and clean up any edges you missed or soft areas with the eraser. You may want to hit the entire outline edge with a soft blur so that it mixes with the background more. Use the dodge and burn tools where needed with the shadows. You may even need to play with multiple layers and layer properties to get different opacities. I have no clue what you're working on.

Some people also use masks and other methods. I am still looking on reviews for Extensis Mask Pro. I would like to try that out. It advertises being able to mask out bubbles!

[Vikki]

From what you described, it sounds like you have the "feather" option set to something higher than zero. Another thing that foils the look when cutting and pasting, is that many times the lighting is drastically different in the two images. This needs to be adjusted on either the background or pasted portion, in order for them to look correct.
I'm one of those people that has never used the pen tool to make selections (seems like too much work). I use layer masks. It's very easy to correct mistakes or to make adjustments to the selection.

[rondon]

sounds good all of it. I still haven't conquered masks yet either..

I would like to add that i like to remove the last 2-3 pixels with a soft eraser.....litely brushing the subject.
seems to blend a bit better with whatever is behind it.

for dimension i like backgrounds with an object in the foreground... a limb say.... adjust the opacity of the layer to allow you to erase the clone while viewing the limb

RonDon

[Vikki]

RonDon, not sure if you've seen it, but I wrote a tutorial for Layer Masks. I tried to simplify the process.
Layer Mask tutorial

[rondon]

I just copied it yesterday... or recently anyhow.. read through it and was going to work thru it but got distracted.... look's like a good way to proceed.

[fotofreak]

Do you think if I buy Extensis Mask Pro it will help me in my endeavors? I am prepared to spend the money if someone thinks it will help me do what I want to do. Let me know. I appreciate everyones help. Thank You.

[grafx]

Please let me know if you do. I have been wanting to play with it myself

[fotofreak]

This is awesome!!! I think Extensis Mask Pro is idiot proof. I mean It does almost everything for you. It takes care of the off pixels and halos with just a click of the mouse or graphic tablet. It's awesome and well worth the money. Well it was for me because I could not get it in Photoshop and with Extensis Mask Pro it's a breeze. Two thumbs up from me for Extensis Mask Pro

[grafx]

Ok, that does it...I want it
Find some bubbles...does it do bubbles with transparent middles?

[fotofreak]

I will try to find a photo with bubbles and try it out. If I could do it then you know this is the stuff. So far it is really good.

[Hunter]

Don't forget, there is always Corel's Knockout

[grafx]

I just acquired my own copy, but I haven't had time to play with it yet. How are you doing?

[fotofreak]

I am loving this program. I do not know what I did before without it. I am really busy right now and do not have the time I would like to play around with the program, but it has already paid for itself for me. Now if I could only upgrade my Photoshop I would be a happy camper (Still using version 6).........

[Gary Richardson]

If you have a fringe round the edge of your selection, try Layer-Matting-Defringe, set the fringe size appropriately, and excess pixels will be removed around the edge of your selection. A better result is got by control clicking layer with cut out, then Select-Modify-Contract, set to appropriate value, then Select-Feather, set to half previous value, then Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur,
and vary blur radius to get suitable blend in. Not universally applicable, but works if fringe is totally surrounding your cut out. Hope this helps.