extracting

[sydneysnana]

I have read and tried different methods to do this. I like making the mask and adding a burr before copying Ava from the ackground.
This is where I started
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1d8tPzlEJfuVYFgQCyzhRAz8t4Am_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1d8tPzlEJfuVYFgQCyzhRAz8t4Am)

This is before trying the blurring edges.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1rSBnN63rLBbN6XFgCEYy6f7rQhXPW1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1rSBnN63rLBbN6XFgCEYy6f7rQhXPW1)

MY QUESTION is I don't like the jagged edges I often get (as you can see here) and I wondered what do do with that. I have tried smooth and definge but... just can't get it. I feel like I am missing a wonderful trick:p

Thanks
Michelle

[Juergen D]

Michelle,
How do you make the selection? I have found it best to select with the Polygonal Lasso Tool. Of course, one has to go in fairly short increments, but there are plenty of straight lines in any photo as long as the magnification is big enough.
Anyway, I made the selection and then feathered by 3 pixels and placed the selection on a new layer (Ctrl-J), Layer 2. This give you a bit more than necessary. That is why I used a layer mask and painted with a black soft brush set to 50% opacity.
Layer 3 is plain white, and the USM layer is used to do just a little sharpening.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1I98TXli9LYFVxnXJsBf3HL1uuzJIi0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1I98TXli9LYFVxnXJsBf3HL1uuzJIi0)

[Daviskw]

Hi Michelle

There are many ways to make and refine a selection.

For the selection itself I will give no advice here but will speak to the basic organization of layers that make refining an extraction easier.

I always duplicate the background as you can see in my example below.

I then make my selection and add it to a layer mask I have attach to the duplicate background layer.

I can then insert a new background below this layer.

What is great about this type of setup are mistakes in selection can be corrected. By painting on the mask with black or white brushes you can add or subtract from your selection… You can blend or blur or smudge… but if you make a mistake you just change the brush color and correct.

I made a hard edged selection of the lovely child then applied a 1 pixel feather to soften the edge. When I added the mask the selection was applied. Any new background below the masked layer will now show through. If the wrong area is being masked...just invert the mask. Click on the mask and press Ctl+I.

I purposely left some of the black edge along the head and shoulder…see the example below.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1xXDesABrz594GXT0uj3g1M4VTfK0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1xXDesABrz594GXT0uj3g1M4VTfK0)

It is also important to see your edge in relation to your new background. In the example below I used a soft black brush with an opacity of 30 percent and slowly brushed the black of the original photo away. If you make a mistake just change the brush color to white and add back. Nothing is ever deleted and uncorrectable.

I made my brush larger and reduced the opacity to 5 percent and clicked on the too dark hair letting a small amount of the background show to lighten the hair.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1o6rPXzJPdNLhtjjvvxMBmXpxgA9J0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1o6rPXzJPdNLhtjjvvxMBmXpxgA9J0)

Even if I am going to move the selection to another photo...rather than add a new background to the existing photo, I still refine the selection with a temporary layer where the new background is now… After I refine the selection then I can control click on the mask which activates the selection then copy the selection to the clipboard and paste into the new photo.
This organization will help you with complicated selections because you can go back and forth adding and subtracting as needed. Say you have a few hair strands you want to keep… You can temporarily turn off the new background layer…click on the mask… then draw over the hair on the original… then turn the new background on to see the results.

My pallet is CS3 but the layers and procedures are the same in Elements...if you have the ability to add a mask...either with an add-on or by hijacking a mask.

It is a little complicated but once you work your way through it a few times it will become automatic when making any selection.

Hope this helps

Butch

[sydneysnana]

Thanks Juergen and Dave!!.

I use the magic wand when I can, magnetic lasso, selection brush, and sometimes try the Magic Extractor that works for parts but never the whole for me. I have played with both of your suggestions and now I understand more about using a layer mask. I was'nt. I also had'nt used the lower opacity on the edges. I am going to continue to work with this and hopefully work a better routine. I think I also need to pay attention and use the hard edged selection that Dave mentioned.

Thanks for the direction!!
Michelle

[Newtome]

Butch, those extra steps make a world of difference.
Thank you once again, Elaine

[Newtome]

Juergen, thank you for reminding me about the polygonal lasso tool. I tend to be in too much of a hurry but you are right about using it for a selection. Taking the time to make a good selection makes all the difference. Thank you.
Elaine