Removing color from plastic

[maggieb]

Hi! I could use some help - I've been handed a CD full with images of items packaged in clear plastic bags shot against a hot pink background. I can easily remove the background color, but I'm lost on how to remove it from the clear plastic bag without losing the plastics luminesence. Can anyone please give me ideas on methods to try?

[Xaran]

Try a copy of the red channel (the others are darker) pasted over the top. Add a layer mask and mask back the biscuits.

Christine

[Flora]

Hi maggieb,

Welcome to RP!

...Other ways for removing the colour:

Hue&Saturation Adjustment Layer > choose the Magentas and with the 'add to' Color Picker, click on several pints as to sample a wider range of the 'hot pink' on background/bag ... and Desaturate it. (this is what I've done in my example)

An alternative way is: Image > Adjustment > Replace Color ... again choose a wide range of the pink colour, adjust the 'Fuzziness' and decrease Saturation.

Hope this helps...

[maggieb]

Thanks, everyone! Your quick responses are appreciated!

I'd like to try both methods...Christine - could you please provide a little more detail (steps you did) on the channel operation?

Thanks again

[Xaran]

Hi Maggie,

1. With the channels pallet open click on the red channel, image should change to show just this channel.

2. Menu - select/all

3. Menu - Edit/copy

4. Deselect

5. In the channels pallet click on RGB - image returns to normal.

6. menu - Edit/paste - this should paste the copy of the red channel into a new layer.

7. Add a layer mask to this layer.

8. Using black paint on the layer mask paint over the biscuits to reveal the original image underneath. Black to reveal, white to hide.

Christine