Erasing layers

[mknabster]

For this collage i need to make for my school, i need to join a few seperate pictures onto one background. For these pictures, I need to erase or remove the whole background to the picture just leaving the people on it. Is there a better way to remove the backround so that the checkered layer is showing rather than white? I have been using the background eraser tool in Elements 3, but is there an easier way to do this one of the other tools?

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

I have to admit that I don't use the background eraser as I find it only works on some backgrounds and its not that good. Here are some other ideas for you to try:

If the background is very plain (say white) try the magic wand to select the white then do Edit>Clear. ... and all you need to do then is just erase the few bits that may get left behind.

It the background is much more complicated then instead of trying to select the background then select the person instead. Use one of the selection tools (my favourite is the lasso), select the person then do Edit>Copy and Edit>Paste ... now your person is on their own layer and you can discard the other one.

Hope this helps ... :)

Wendy

[mknabster]

Hey thanks Wendy, I never thought of that. Yea, most of the pictures all have pretty complicated backgrounds because they are all football pictures with a lot of action in the background. So, I'll have to see how it works. Thanks again!

[Wendy]

Hi ...

No problem ... do let us know how you go on :)

Wendy

[mknabster]

Hey Wendy, I tired that magnetic lasso thing, it didn't work that well. I need some help w/ something though w/ my last erasing thing i did w/ the background eraser tool. Is there an e-mail that I can send the psd document to you, so maybe you can look at it? I need a better idea to do this, can you help me?

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

Try the ordinary lasso instead of the magnetic one. The magnetic lasso is sort of difficult to control ... but the ordinary lasso is much better behaved :)

Give that a try and let me know how you go on :)


Wendy