Probably a really easy cut and drop for someone??

aluck247 · #1 04-21-2011, 11:41 AM

Hi

I have a picture of a trophy i would like to be on just a plain white page.

I would like the trophy cut out and pasted onto just a plain white background.

Would it be possible for someone to do this for me if they have a free moment, and then reply back on how they did it so i can try for myself.

Many thanks

palms · #2 04-21-2011, 12:23 PM

Hello and welcome

a few pointers for you, no not a really easy cut out ( not many are) and it takes more than a few moments, plus you didn't mention which software you are using?
so assuming you will be using photoshop i think for this image the pen tool is the best option
here are a couple of links for you to look at

http://www.melissaevans.com/tutorial...shops-pen-tool

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/b...ol-selections/
although i know there are some excellent video's as well

and here is my quick attempt using the pen tool, you would need to take more time than i spent on it

Palms

Wolfman · #3 04-21-2011, 12:50 PM

Use the pen tool to outline the trophy, convert the pen path to a selection and invert the selection so your background is now selected and go to levels and use the far right eye dropper to click on the darkest part of the background to set your white point... if there are any leftover spots on the background just clone or paint those away.

0lBaldy · #4 04-21-2011, 10:46 PM

Alex, Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends.

Yep, the Pen Tool,.. Definitely!!

BUT... I had a quick and dirty go at it just using the dreaded 'Magic Wand Tool' after doing a good Levels, ... combining all layers and copying the combined layer, .. Making, inverting and cleaning up a layer mask, .. then just changing the layer mode to 'Screen'

Repairman · #5 04-21-2011, 11:08 PM

Don't forget to change the green and purple reflections as they are no longer relevant against a white background. A simple grey wash will do it.
R.

4personnen · #6 04-22-2011, 02:33 AM

To 0lBaldy:
I'm just confused by the way you search for W B and gray points on your layer stack. Why not use clippings in the curves panel and (Or levels panel) and sampler tool to find these points? (you'll also have the RGB settings in the info panel for those sampling points)... Just a question maybe I do it wrong myself (may also be dependent on your version, mine is PSCS4)

PS: Photograph courtesy of mayfield curtis

The values are non-accurate in this print screen shot

aluck247 · #7 04-22-2011, 07:16 AM

Thanks for all your help everyone.

How would i go about applying a grey wash, and i would also quite like to make it nice and shiny looking like Wolfman's example.

I'd quite like a shadow underneath aswell if this is possible?

Repairman · #8 04-22-2011, 09:03 AM

Select a brush tool. Change the mode to 'colour' instead of 'normal'. Select the greyish tone close to the colour reflections. Brush over the colour areas till happy.
R.

aluck247 · #9 04-22-2011, 01:19 PM

Many thanks, ive now got rid of all the reflections.

Wolfman...how did you make your trophy look so shiny?

Wolfman · #10 04-22-2011, 01:46 PM

I cleaned out some color cast and gave it a little contrast with levels which made the metal look shinier.

0lBaldy · #11 04-22-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4personnen

To 0lBaldy:
I'm just confused by the way you search for W B and gray points on your layer stack. Why not use clippings in the curves panel and (Or levels panel) and sampler tool to find these points? (you'll also have the RGB settings in the info panel for those sampling points)... Just a question maybe I do it wrong myself (may also be dependent on your version, mine is PSCS4)

PS: Photograph courtesy of mayfield curtis

The values are non-accurate in this print screen shot

I am just a novice, but the Gray layer set to Difference and using a Threshold Layer above it is one of many ways I was taught to find the Gray Point,.... Black and White points were found using the same Threshold layer with the Gray layer unchecked or deleted... (I made an action, so it is convenient and simple for me to find the points without searching..)

Create a new layer and fill with 50% Gray change the blend mode of that layer to difference. after you get your 50% gray layer set to difference... add a new Threshold Adjustment Layer to the top of the stack.... slide the slider to the left till there is a small black point just large enough to accommodate the bullseye of the eyedropper tool that shows up and after you hold down the Shift key... click to set the point (that is the neutral gray point).... then turn off or delete the 50% Gray layer and use the same threshold layer again to establish and set the white point by sliding the slider to the right till you just see a white area just big enough for the bullseye (beware of reflections though) .. then set the black point the same way by going left..

when all three points are set.... hide the Threshold Layer and open and place on top of the stack a Curves or Levels Adjustment Layer and use those points to set the white, gray, black points...

After that, merge up all your layers (Ctrl-Alt-Shft-E) and continue working your Leveled/Color Corrected image..

In Photoshop, I have found that if what works for you, gives you the results that you are looking for then thats the correct way for you...

There might be a sundry of other ways to approach a problem that could be faster, simpler, or even more convoluted but it is always the results that counts using whatever tools you are comfortable working with..

Hope this helps some ....

palms · #12 04-23-2011, 02:27 AM

I would just like to add that this thread is what i think rtp is all about, helpful to all, and with lots of tips and advice, given i might add in a nice friendly way

Palms

4personnen · #13 04-23-2011, 04:01 AM

@ 0lbaldy
novice...ntntntnt

thanks for the tip, of course with an action made with yours my method sounds tedious now....

unimatrix001 · #14 04-23-2011, 08:19 PM

Just in case anyone wasnt sure about the technique here is a link to it.
http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=9...epage&q&f=true

Der_W · #15 04-24-2011, 04:58 AM

The only concern I have with this technique is that it doesn't really search for neutral areas, but merely areas with a neutral gray (128/128/128), which means that dark neutral areas aren't taken into consideration.

Personally I've created an action that creates a 50% gray layer in "Luminosity" mode and after that the 50% gray layer in "Difference" mode.
Now using the threshold will give you black wherever the color is near neutrality, not only in the midtones :-).

daygraphics · #16 04-26-2011, 06:17 PM

Not sure what all the levels and thresholds are being used for, but as always - there are many ways to do things in PS. No right or wrong. Usually personal preferences.

To my way of thinking - this "is" just simply a cut (PATH) and clip job. About 5-10 minutes. Your path will enable you to cut, drop=out background or copy and paste into another background. I believe someone gave you a link to using your pen tool. There are many free links to learning this tool. Check them out.

Although this is a little on the lores side for a precise accurate pen cut path - you can usually guestimate the shape of the object. ALSO one of the really good things about Paths is that they are OBJECT ORIENTED or Vector based. That is - they are resolution independent. So I can cut a PATH and save a lil' ol' grayscale version of your original and post here (which I have).

This image has a Path on it and you can just drag it from the path menu and drop it onto your existing image. You can also select all points and just drag it around to line it up to yours. You can also scale it to fit yours (if your original is a larger image).