An Alternative Extract Method
There are many occasions when we might want to lift an object out of one photo and drop it instead into a second file. The problen here is getting a nice clean edge to the cut out, so that the end result doesn't look too contrived. There are many methods of achieving the same goal and they all work although not always equally successfully. Much depends on the original photo, so it's a good idea to practice every method you come across. You never know when that technique might be the only life saver around. Photoshop ships with the EXTRACT tool as part of the filters set although goodness knows why because it isn't a filter as such, more like a mini programme within a larger one. Extract works ok but it can be fiddly and a difficult tool to master, so here is an alternative method which I have found works very nicely, especially when the background isn't too complicated. It would be perfect for example in lifting a person out of a studio setting ready for dropping into some other scene. Here goes with the step by step :
Please note that in the "Before" example above the background is very fussy and would not easily be selectes using the Magic Wand. In such a photo the Polygonal Marquee would suit better since the edges to be selected consist of straight lines. The instructions below are more apt in a situation where the background to be removed is plainer.
1. Open the image and immediately duplicate the background layer.
2. In the layers palette, double click on the background layer and rename it as "Layer 0".
3. Using the Background Copy Layer, select the background using the magic wand tool. Try the default tolerance of 32, but if this results in "grabbing" too much, reduce the tolerance until it works better for you. Use shift and click to add to the selection and Alt and click to subtract from it.
4. Go to "Select" and then "Inverse".
5. Go to... Window.....Channels and make an Alpha Channel by clicking on the folded paper icon at the bottom of the channels window.
6. Go to..."Edit"....."Stroke" and using a setting of 4 pixels,and with white as the foreground colour and the centre option selected, click OK.
7. Go to "Select"....."Deselect".
8. Go to..."Image"...."Adjustments"....."Invert"
9. Return to the channels palette, activate the RGB channel and close the palette.
10. Go to..."Filter"...."Extract".
11. In the Extract window which has now opened up. choose the Alpha1 channel in the selection box on the right hand side.
12. Use the extraction fill tool (the paint bucket icon) to fill within the highlighted area and click OK
13. Back in the Layers Palette, delete Layer0 (The original background layer)
14. Use the remaining layer or save it for future use.
Please note that in the "Before" example above the background is very fussy and would not easily be selectes using the Magic Wand. In such a photo the Polygonal Marquee would suit better since the edges to be selected consist of straight lines. The instructions below are more apt in a situation where the background to be removed is plainer.
1. Open the image and immediately duplicate the background layer.
2. In the layers palette, double click on the background layer and rename it as "Layer 0".
3. Using the Background Copy Layer, select the background using the magic wand tool. Try the default tolerance of 32, but if this results in "grabbing" too much, reduce the tolerance until it works better for you. Use shift and click to add to the selection and Alt and click to subtract from it.
4. Go to "Select" and then "Inverse".
5. Go to... Window.....Channels and make an Alpha Channel by clicking on the folded paper icon at the bottom of the channels window.
6. Go to..."Edit"....."Stroke" and using a setting of 4 pixels,and with white as the foreground colour and the centre option selected, click OK.
7. Go to "Select"....."Deselect".
8. Go to..."Image"...."Adjustments"....."Invert"
9. Return to the channels palette, activate the RGB channel and close the palette.
10. Go to..."Filter"...."Extract".
11. In the Extract window which has now opened up. choose the Alpha1 channel in the selection box on the right hand side.
12. Use the extraction fill tool (the paint bucket icon) to fill within the highlighted area and click OK
13. Back in the Layers Palette, delete Layer0 (The original background layer)
14. Use the remaining layer or save it for future use.
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