Removing bg from picture

[reshogu]

Hello. I have tried different tutorials but i seem to need some help how to get russian toy terrier picture clean and without it's bg. As you see it is has multiple bg colors and terrier itself has some same colors what bg has (mainly dark). Could someone help and recommend way how to remove bg from this picture.

[skoobey]

Re: Removing bg from picture

There is no easy way, you can try the Select>refine edge, and so that multiple times for different areas as no selection will clean the entire thing, then the rest of the hair has to be manually extracted, and drawn in in places.

Why do people constantly ask these sort of impossible tasks to be performed? Just shoot it right. Only possible scenario in which this would be by any means justifiable is that if this was the best picture of the dog in his/her final days. Yes, it is that much of a hassle.

P.S. On the second look, refine edge would take you quite far in the right direction, it's very little that is clipped. Also try with channel selections. This kind of extraction is not for the faint hearted, as it requires a couple of hours to look perfect.

[Aladdin]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Creepy eyes! Fix them.

[Gary]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Started off with ACR brighten the darks then used the green channel and quick mask to make a selection of the dog, extracted to a new layer and touched-up with a hair brush. The BG started with a blurred copy of the original BG and played with curves for colour and contrast to my tastes. The eyes were borrowed from the web.

Cheers.

[Repairman]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Nice job Gary - I'd be interested to see it with maybe 50% of the original hair colour restored though. I like the way you used the existing background rather than dropping in a fake panel of colour. I'm sure the OP will be pleased!

[Gary]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Thanks. Appreciate your comments.

Cheers.

[skoobey]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Nice job separating the dog, yet I completely disagree that this is better than a placing backdrop for a simple reason: DOF. At this rate, half the dog would be OOF.

[shumicpi]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Masking technique can help in separating background. As the photo of the dog is hairy so here masking can help to knock out the background and place the dog separately in another background.

[Gary]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Nice job separating the dog, yet I completely disagree that this is better than a placing backdrop for a simple reason: DOF. At this rate, half the dog would be OOF.

Point taken. In this case, as with most of my extractions to replace the BG, getting an accurate selection is #1 on my list. From there, the whole BG design, focus, etc is very subjective ... unless otherwise directed.

Appreciate your reply.

Cheers.

[AKMac]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Is there a technical term - "Well Out Of Focus"?

[skoobey]

Re: Removing bg from picture

There are no technical terms. Period.

[Tony W]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Yes there is and you have just been given it by AKMac Woof, Woof

[skoobey]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Oh really, mind you telling that in the same English to the people living in the same location you are 200 years ago? Guess what, those technical terms change with technique, and are just as fluent as everything else.

[Tony W]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Your sentence makes no sense again - technical terms rubbish. Did you not look at the smileys?

Look again at the image posted and make a sound like a dog - get it now just a little humour

[skoobey]

Re: Removing bg from picture

Well it probably made no sense due to the fact I was trying to eat and type at the same time.