Full Version: It's all about the curls
From: basehorawards [#1]
15 Dec 2005
To: ALL
I have a challenge I have to meet. I have two nieces whose pictures I am supposed to put onto marble for Christmas. One was easy. I can take out background and massage a photo ok. But this picture of the second niece has me just about beat. I can get most of the background out except in the curls. I gotta keep the curls if at all possible. The curls are so much a part of her personality that if I have to crop them it will be very disappointing. I attached a small bitmap so you can see what I am saying.
When I zoom in to try to crop pixel by pixel I can not see what is hair and what is background.
EDITED: 15 Dec 2005 by DGL
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2]
15 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#1] 15 Dec 2005
James,
Instead of trying to erase individual pixels, you may have an easier time selecting the colors you don't want and eliminating them.
What program are you using?
EDITED: 15 Dec 2005 by DGL
From: basehorawards [#3]
15 Dec 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2] 15 Dec 2005
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#4]
15 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#3] 15 Dec 2005
I use Photoshop, but the procedure should be very similar.
Choose a white or transparent background.
Use your magic wand to select an area of the color you don't want, then select "similar." That will select similar colors. Then hit "delete."
A problem you may encounter, when selecting "similar," is that part of her collar may also be selected. Let's hope the colors are different enough.
From: basehorawards [#5]
15 Dec 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#4] 15 Dec 2005
Dave,
I will give that a try tomorrow. It is 9:00 here so I have to get in the house and get the boys to bed. I was only supposed to stay out here for a few minutes.
Thanks for your help,
From: logojohn [#6]
15 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#1] 15 Dec 2005
Are you lasering it? Then you don't need it in color.
I converted it to grayscale and used the tone curve and contrast to turn the yellow into white.
I also resampled the pic bigger when working on it to make it easier to work with.
EDITED: 15 Dec 2005 by LOGOJOHN
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#7]
15 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#3] 15 Dec 2005
Select the 'magic wand' tool. set the range to about 24 as a trial, you may have to go down. Select the yellow section, it will not get all but that is OK. Hold shift, (or is that CTRL, whichever puts a + symbol next to the wand cursor), click on the areas that did not get selected in the yellow. (You may find after that, selecting 'Mask/Shape/Remove holes' will be helpful.) Then fill that mask with your background color. You'll wonder where the yellow went, (if you are old enough to remember the Pepsodent commercials).
If you change your mind on the background color, one click of the tool will select all of the new color and you can re-fill it.
From: basehorawards [#8]
15 Dec 2005
To: logojohn [#6] 16 Dec 2005
I will give this a shot this morning.
There are so many features in Corel that it seems impossible to know them all.
Good thing we have this braintrust.
From: basehorawards [#9]
15 Dec 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#7] 16 Dec 2005
I will try this too. Different techniques work best in different situations.
Thanks for the braintrust guys.
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#10]
16 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#1] 17 Dec 2005
James,
Of the suggestions already offered, I agree with Harvey that becoming familiar with the Magic Wand tool (extremely important to learn the Additive and Subtractive mode [ the + & - icons on the property bar when in Magic Wand mode ].
However if you want the ultimate tool for this scenario it is Corel Knock Out. This is a relative expensive add on that you draw an inside line and an outside line and Knock out pulls the background out *even between the curls*!!!!
A step down from that is the Image>Cut out tool which is *free* and in your CorelPaint. Make your nib a little larger as you pass over the curls.
Will take a few passes to get the feel of this.
I have 5 or 6 (legal, unused, registerable, manual on CD only) copies of Corel Knock Out cheap if some are interested. This plug in works in PhotoShop or other programs (paint shop pro) that accept photoshop plug ins.
From: basehorawards [#11]
17 Dec 2005
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#10] 17 Dec 2005
Roy,
I am going to have to take some time and get to learn Corel's features better. Man there are a lot of features.
I am interested in Corel Knock Out. How much is cheap?
Thanks,
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#12]
17 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#11] 18 Dec 2005
From: Ed (EMANA) [#13]
17 Dec 2005
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#12] 17 Dec 2005
Roy,
Can you show a before and aafter photo w/ this plug-in?
I may be interested in this.
Thanks!
Ed
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#14]
17 Dec 2005
To: Ed (EMANA) [#13] 18 Dec 2005
Ed,
I'll not be at a PC which has Knock Out on it until middle of next week. I'lll post a b4/aftr at that time.
From: sawdr73 [#15]
17 Dec 2005
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#14] 17 Dec 2005
Roy,
I've been wanting Knock-out for some time. How do I claim one? Should I contact your office Monday or can I reserve it through this post. I will be glad to call the office, just want to make sure I'm on the list before they are all spoken for.
Mickey
From: jeff (JCHUMBLEY) [#16]
17 Dec 2005
To: ALL
I ordered Knockout and KPT package on the 29th of Nov on a promo deal. Well last week DHL dropped a package at my door that had the packing invoice but nothing else in it. All sealed and such. I called Corel and they told me that they would have to talk to the shipper. I told them that I needed it and really didn't care who they talk to.
All said I received an email from Corel that had a tracking number for a new set of CD's. We will see what shows up in the next box.
Jeff
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#17]
17 Dec 2005
To: sawdr73 [#15] 18 Dec 2005
Mickey,
You got the last one. Please eMail our administrator Jeanette with your mailing address. Remove all Zs from her email address below.
For all others who have an interest, http://www.corel.com is now selling this for $99. I recall paying $249 for version 1 --- and still think it was a great buy.
EDITED: 17 Dec 2005 by DATAKES
From: gt350ed [#18]
17 Dec 2005
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#10] 17 Dec 2005
From: Ed (EMANA) [#19]
18 Dec 2005
To: ALL
Roy,
Did you happen to reserve one for me? :)
Ed
From: Ruben (QUIEROLEARN) [#20]
18 Dec 2005
To: basehorawards [#1] 18 Dec 2005
I just want to say that Corel Knockout 2 is a great plug-in I use it with photoshop, there is also a great inexpensive and great program that now is part of Corel also which is Paint Shop Pro X (the plug-in Knockout works great in this program) and the program in self has hes own way of removing backgrounds but my favorite is Knockout I use it almost avery day.
Here is an attachment of your photo with a before and after consider that your photo was a low res and detail was not that great any way here is
Ruben
Show messages: 1-20 21-40 41-60