Help w/ Deleting a Background? (picture!)

[christine66]

Hello All! I am new here to RetouchPRO and in looking at past posts, I am sure I can learn a lot from you guys!

I have a bunch of similar images where I need to delete the black background and make it white. Forget about magic-wanding.... and forget quick mask mode. I've tried that. The problem is there's always black pixels from the middle area that linger.

I need help! (I am not too familiar with layer masks... so if that is what you suggest, can ya "hold my hand" through it?)

Here's the picture:

http://tinyurl.com/28ymh

The trick is to make the image appear floating on a white background without any black artifacts.

Thanks!

Christine

[Noelf]

I'm not sure what program you are using for editing, but using Photoshop CS I used the replace color command and was able to get to the below really quick.

Might need little touches, but 99% of it seemed to replace nicely.

- Noel

[christine66]

OMGosh! You did an excellent job!!

I'm sorry! I didn't mention that I use Photoshop 7!! (Duh!)

I'm not sure if CS and 7 have basically the same capabilities, but could you explain in more detail how you achieved that? (Wow! I am amazed!)

Thanks!

Christine

[Noelf]

Good news is, Photoshop 7 has the same setup

Open the image

Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Replace Color

You'll see the replace color dialog pop up. Use the eye dropper to choose black, move the fuzziness slider to 200 and the brightness to 100 and you should be all set

I attached a copy of the settings (ignore the 2% it shows in the middle)

Replace color works very well on solid colors.

- Noel

[christine66]

Noel, you are the best!! I can't wait to apply your technique. I've been struggling with this darn thing for a while.... and you've got the easiest method yet! That was just what I was looking for!



Christine

[Noelf]

I'm just glad it was easy!

- Noel

[Mig]

This is a fine technique and works well, however it leaves a background which is not technically white. You can measure this with the info pallette.
The problem lies in the fact that the original background is not black. Again, this can be verified by measuring the colours in the info pallette.

The solution is to use a copy of one of the channels to build a mask, then touch up the mask by painting with white over the areas you wish you keep, then, once you're satisfied that you've built a good mask that's plugged all the holes, activate it as a selection and cut out the thread (or whatever that stuff is in this picture) from a duplicated background layer by adding a layer mask.
Then add an empty layer below the duplicated background layer and fill it with white.
This is not the only solution, but it's the best one, and, unlike Select>Color Range or Image>Replace Color, will guarantee you a white background with no black pixels.
The only problem is it's hard to do. But if you're comfortable working with channels it's child's play.


Mig

[Noelf]

For what this is going to be used for, I think 99% white is good enough for the speed of the technique

Layer masks have their uses, that is more than true, but you could spend a lot of time setting one up for this complex an image for that last 1% of white.

- Noel

[Mig]

Christine wrote, "The trick is to make the image appear floating on a white background..."

She asks for a technique where there is a white background with no black pixels.

As far as speed goes, I don't know where you're at with photoshop, but believe it or not many people could make the mask and apply it and put in the white background before many people with photoshop could even find where Image>Adjust>Replace Color resides.

Mig

[Noelf]

Each to their own technique

- Noel