Removing Backgrounds from Photographs/Images, Level: Intermediate Options

[Josh]

Removing Backgrounds from Photographs/Images
By: Dren T. Martin

So you find a great photo of a friend or maybe a game render and you want to get rid of that background that is behind them. It could be someone's messy room to a game enviroment in a render. They're really annoying when you just want to use the picture in your own graphics. I wrote this tutorial in hopes that it will simplify your life a little more when you need to remove the background of images or photographs.

Now this is a way I've taught myself. I'm not claiming this is the right way to do it, but really all that matters in the end is the right thing is accomplished in the end. There may be an easier way to do this and I don't know about it, but it's up to you if you choose to follow my technique rather than a different technique.

I've chosen a Guild Wars wallpaper to use in this tutorial. My goal is to get rid of the background in the wallpaper and leave the ranger (female) in tact. We're going to do this with the pen tool. Yes, that tool that no one knows how to use and they usually leave it untouched.

Before we begin I want you to erase everything in your mind that has been said about the pen tool negatively and all the fears you have of the tool as the tool is actually very easy to use once you learn how to use it.

So let's start. Grab the following image and load it into Photoshop.


Grab the trusty pen tool. You can find this tool in the tool box window in the left column near the end of most of the tools. See screenshot.


We're going to do a rough outline of what we want to keep in the image. So start clicking on the outline of the ranger (female) in the wallpaper. See screenshot.


Now when we zoom into this you'll notice how sloppy it is (See screenshot below; you'll see arrows showing you the sloppyness). We're going to fix this next but just don't worry about how sloppy it is when you do this step. Also, you'll notice that the pen tool has created a green transparent layer over my image. This is just what I used so you can see what I was doing. It's green because I set the color to green and it's transparent because I set the layers opacity pretty low.


Now to make these lines more curved to fit the ranger (female) we're going to use the Convert Point Tool. This tool will allow you to change the way the line is shaped. Basically, to use this tool you select it (See screenshot) then click on the green part or whatever color you used and some boxes will appear on the outline you made. These are called your Anchor Points...at least that's what I think they're called . I'm getting ahead of myself anyway.. Take a look at the tutorial to select the tool and I'll continue.



Click the color you used that is over the ranger (female) so you can see the boxes (anchor points) and click and hold, then start dragging on one to start converting the points. Drag it and mov eit around untill the line fits nicely on the ranger (female). See screenshot.


Once you've converted all the anchor points, you should have everything fitting nicely around the ranger (female). See screenshot.


Now all that is left to do is rasterize your layer that the pen tool created and ctrl + click on the thumnail preview to select the shape you made with the pen tool. Right click the new selection and click on "Select Inverse", go to your original layer and hit the delete key... Delete the pen tool layer and there you have it. A wonderful non-background image.

[to@ds]

Nice tutorial, and great looking cut, but Im a big fan of the good old eraser tool. Ive tried this techinque before but didnt enjoy it, but like you said, everyone has differant ways of doing things, as long as the result is the same.

[Josh]

I don't like the eraser tool... Now I'd probably like it if I used a tablet But for the mouse to go around curves with the eraser tool? I'm not that skilled

[Sylo-X-]

I use the eraser tool also. just use a round brush and instead of clicking and draging around the picture. i just click around the picture and take out small circles at a time

[Josh]

yeah that would take forever imho. The process above takes me about 3 minutes to do. Like I've said before, the pen tool is really easy to use if you know what you're doing.

[to@ds]

Some of us do know how to use the pen tool, at great length too. I still find using the eraser easier though, but once again, its all down to what each individual user finds best.

[Decessus]

i like this tutorial, i never really used the pen tool before, and it can be tricky to get right, but once youve done it, its simple as pie

[Josh]

Thank you TGF

[LATIN]

it all also depends on the image your trying to remove the background from but both ways are good they have there advantages and disvantages.

but great TUT dren good you added screen shots best way to show whats happening with each prosses

[Josh]

Screenshots are the easy part Writing the tutorial is the hard part lol.

[mR vMan]

I'm curious: does anyone do "non-destructive" masking to extract content from an existing image?

If anyone's interested, I could "persuade" myself into creating a quick tutorial on the approach.

Basically, it's the concept of avoiding the destruction of an image (i.e.: deleting actual pixels) through the use of masking, etc.

It certainly makes recuperating any pixels lost a lot easier - if you delete something and it's gone out of your pallette history, you're out of luck.
With this method, nothing is ever lost and easily recuperated.

And yes, use of the pen tool is allowed as well

[Tami]

I use masking sometimes, however, when I'm changing the overall look of one of my photos, I make a copy and use it, never the original. As you say, when it's gone, it's gone.

Your taking the time to write a tutorial on simple masking, that would be greatly appreciated.

[Ambiguity]

*whistles* I have seen a lot of tutorials for removing the backgrounds, but this one is the most original version I have seen.Nice job bro .

[Josh]

Thanks bunches, Ambiguity!

[CadillacPat]

Nicely written and easy to follow!!!!!
And, if you wish to soften the edge after you cut her out you can use the Bevel Emboss or Drop Shadow feature.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[RJ Vincent]

Great idea. I've been looking for an easy way to get rid of some annoying backgrounds in my photos. You just made my life a little easier and saved me some cash. Instead of buying some software, I'll do this instead. Besides, who doesn't need practice using the pen tool? Great tutorial. Very easy to follow.

[Tami]

I'll thank you on behalf of Josh (dren) as he has escaped the building and is on holidays for a couple of weeks. I'm glad that the tutorial was of help to you - and I agree - practice with the pen tool is a good thing. Perhaps then I wouldn't find it so annoying