deleting a pictures background

[kobra51]

Hi.it has been a few days that i am trying to completely delete a picture's background,but i'm getting nowhere.I used different techniques from different tuts but after making the background transparent i always have a white box around the main picture.can somebody please step by step me and teach me how to keep my main subject absolutely free of anything .thanks

[ljameso1]

My favorite way is to select the main subject with the magnetic lasso tool. Then I zoom in close with the selection brush to clean up edges. If you select too much hold the option key to turn brush to deselect mode. After selection is complete go to selection>modify>contract and set for 2 pixels. Then selection>feather 1 pixel. Then selection>invert after which hit delete key to get rid of everything but the subject. There are faster ways but works best for me to get a clean selection.

[kobra51]

Hello linda
thank you for your respond,but i don't know why it is not working,I guess you better talk to me with dummy's language,i'm very new in photo editing subject and better to say don't know nothing about editing .Help me please one more time with more detail.thanx

[Diana]

Hi Kobra,

Welcome to the forum.

After you delete your background, in order to save your image and keep your transparent background, you need to use File > Save For Web. When the Save For Web options window comes up...underneath the word "Preset," click the dropdown box and choose GIF. Make sure Transparency is checked before clicking OK. Then name your file, choose location and click on the Save button. Hope this is what you need.

Diana

[mom to 4]

Kobra:

do you ean you need directions geared to a three year old????:eek: You and I will get along very well in the sandbox! I always require detailed directions. It is the only way I can understand! I have to say, I sometimes have a very difficult time with the magnetic lasso. When it work, it works great, but sometimes that darn thing just has a mind of its own! I agree though, lasso and clean up with the eraser (use the ctrl+ key to make the image really large and clean up is much easier...in my opinion):D

[kobra51]

Hi Diana
I tried the technique that you mentioned,after saving the file for the web and so on when i open the picture ,it has that white square around it again.
I think i just give up and go after another hobby,just kidding!!!!
but i really like to learn this,please ,somebody help.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

When you used save for web ... did you change the file type to gif (towards the top of the page on the right hand side)

Wendy :)

[kobra51]

Hi
yes, i did,but it is not working.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Did you make sure that Transparency was checked before clicking OK and that Matte was set to none ?

Wendy

[msbrad]

I'm often in the same sandbox as Colleen. So I need a bit more clarification here.
I am curious as to the white box around the subject. Are you referring to the old deleted background that should be transparent that now shows up white when you save it to some photo folder or my pictures etc? If so, and you saved it as a gif, or a png, it will look that way.
Try to open a "new" background. It can be another photo or just an empty and fill it with color. And then open your subject with the back ground that should be transparent. have both available. Switch to the move tool 'v' and drag the part you kept onto the new background. Is the white part still there?

If I missed all together as to where the white part is, I apologize.
m

[ljameso1]

T ry saving it as a .psd file. I just took a collage class from eclectic and we had to remove the subject from the background. The class instructer did say save as psd, but I forgot and saved as jpeg and my transparant background became white. W hen I saved as psd transparant stayed that way. Hope that helps.

[kobra51]

Hi Wendy
oh!!!! thank you very much,it worked perfect, you don't knw how happy i am,thank you again.
Now,i have a picture with absolutely nothing behind or around it,and i can teach it to somebody else.This is one of the benefits of being a part of some online group like you guys,if i had no access to this site ,god knows how long would've been taking until i could solve my problem.great job.Kobra

[kobra51]

Hi diana
i have to say thank you first,because you were the one who said save it for the web,and that was the main step which i didn't take it before.so,thank you all,hand in hand worked absolutely great.Kobra

[Wendy]

Hi Kobra ...

So glad that you are now able to save it OK :)

Wendy