How to Extract Image

[zantasha]

Hi guys 'n' gals Here's a tip for How to extract an image from background.

1- Open image you want to extract.

2. Now go to :Channels Pallet" and watch closely which "color channel" has more/better contrast. In this case it is "blue channel"... so simply drag it to "create new channel" icon to make a copy of blue channel. it will be called "blue copy"

NOTE: if your channel pallet is not visible, then simply goto "Window" in top menu and select "Channels" from drop menu.

3. When "blue copy" is selected, goto "Image" from top menu then Adjustments>Levels.. or simply press Ctrl+L to open level options. Drag the left pointer (black) to right

4. Now goto Edit>Fade Levels or Shift+Ctrl+F and change mode to "Linear Burn"

5. Now select Black as you foreground color.... choose a harder brush of about medium size and change the brush mode to "Overlay" (Alt+Shift+O)... and paint over image untill it gets totally black.

6. Now Ctrl+Click on the icon of that "blue copy" to make its selection... go back to layers pallet and click on the "Add Layer Mask" icon on the pellet bottom.

Note: If this step hides your foreground instead of background...simply press Ctrl+I on layer mask and the selection will be reversed.

Thats it... you have extracted the image


You can now place it on any background. I've placed it on a texture i made in 3 simple steps in photoshop. (i'll add that tutorial here as well if you like it)


I hope I've explained everything. I will add other tips like how to extract an image with complex background later

Edit: Oh.. there are also some advanced techniques to adjust the channel mask with dog or burn tool... and then refine mask edge....which i'll explain in other thread.

[MrHenryDog]

thanks Zan - I use paintshop, as personally i find it a little more user friendly, but you have made this look so easy that I have bookmarked this page and planning to load CS and have a go.

More tutorials like this an I might be converted..

[LittleCoolDude]

My good God Zantasha... I cannot wait to see the tutorial you will have for complex backgrounds. I wish i knew about this weeks ago. What you just showed me saved me HOURS of work on simple animation backgrounds.

Thank you very very much

[jcdesign]

Thank´s for this. Mark the whole tutorial and paste it in word. Must try this some day. It seems for doing this it must been a white background? Am I right?

[zantasha]

QUOTE (jannecover @ Jan 31 2010, 10:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank´s for this. Mark the whole tutorial and paste it in word. Must try this some day. It seems for doing this it must been a white background? Am I right?

The method will remain pretty much same with dark backgrounds... only reversed... and when do the fade levels setting, change the mode to Dodge or Screen.. then play a little bit with dodge tool to enhance the contrast and thats it

EDIT: did a quickie for example

[bazzah]

You are a show off Nat :P You make this look too easy! lol

[zantasha]

And the background texture is pretty much easy.

1. Make a new document... create a new layer... and with default black & white colors goto filter>render>clouds
Note: you can press Ctrl+F a couple of times to get the effect you like.



2. Go to Filter>Pixelate>Mezzotint and select Long Strokes in type.




3. Goto Filter>Blur>Motion Blur... set the angel to 90 and distance all the way to maximum. Again you can press Ctrl+F a couple of times till you get what you like.



4. Then in Blending Options simply add Gradient Overly with mode set to Overlay and whatever gradient you like.



EDIT: LOL bazz it's not very easy... but it ain't rocket science either.. once you understand the blend modes, it's kinda piece of cake.

[LittleCoolDude]

Really great tutorial, I think i need to practice a bit, Zantasha does it really depend on the background and quality of the image?

I tested it out on a few Japanese Animation pics i had with white backgrounds, and there was a thin white line around the images, Can this happen from not blending properly from the channel?

Thanks again, great tutorial, worked well for extracting a TT

[zantasha]

Sorry for late reply LittleCoolDude.. i wasn't around.. well removing that thin white line (halos) is really simple. So if you have a vector type (or hard edges).. then simply do this

While you layer mask is selected, goto Filter>Other>Minimum and select Select default Radius of 1 Pixel..Thats all you can change it to 2 ,3 or whatever, but I'd suggest that you keep it to 1 and apply the filter....then simply press Ctrl+F to re-apply the filter with same settings.









and if you're image has softer edges like fur, hair etc then while your layer mask is selected....goto Select>Refine Edge or Alt+Ctrl+R and take Contract/Expand slider to left till the Halo goes away and then add a little bit of feather. Try to do it in the standard mode(far left option)t and if the marching ants (selection) is not letting you see the edges properly.. simply press Ctrl+H and they will hide. Ctrl+H again will reveal them again.

Refining Edge is a bit of tricky job and i'll try to fully explain it in another thread.

[LittleCoolDude]

you are brilliant!!! Thanks for the explanation. Just one last question, is this for CS4 or CS3? I'm not using CS4 so just wondering if I need to alter anything to fit.

Thanks again Zan!!