Cutting out hair in a photo?

[Andymay]

When cutting someone out of a photo, what technique to you use to get in between the hair?
Especially a woman's hair that is blowing in a breeze, how to only cut out the hair, and not the spaces between the hair?

Thank you

[ken1]

There are several options, depending on the background.

Is the background uniform, like all white or blue, for example. Or is it a busy background, a building or pattern, for example?

It will help if you can post the picture. You can do it here, free:

http://www.pixentral.com

Save a copy of the picture via File>save for web. Then upload to Pixentral and provide the address in the reply box here.

[ATR]

Yes the background is going to make the job easier or harder. Have you seen this tutorial:

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/elements/tutorials/extract-hair/masking-tutorial.html

If you are a subscriber at http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com, look to see if you can find an old video tutorial on the subject. I seem to recall that there is one.

ATR

[ljameso1]

I've gone to using on 1 for hair cut outs. Works well.

[Andymay]

ATR,

This is a pretty good tut, but it say the first most important step is to photograph your subject against a total white background. What if your working on an existing photo that isn't against a total white background? Just wondering what others do in that situation.

Andy

Yes the background is going to make the job easier or harder. Have you seen this tutorial:

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/elements/tutorials/extract-hair/masking-tutorial.html

If you are a subscriber at http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com, look to see if you can find an old video tutorial on the subject. I seem to recall that there is one.

ATR

[ken1]

With reference to post #2, it is difficult to provide specific guidance without looking at the picture file.

One approach may be :


Duplicate the background layer
Apply threshold filter to this layer (Filter>Adjustments>Threshold), yielding black & white rendition. Position of the slider is critical and ultimately may require a redo in order to get it right
Apply magic wand tool to select white component
Open blank layer at top of stack and fill with color
Shut off visibility of the b&w background copy layer


The alternative is to make a precise selection of the person, incorporating the hair, of course. A mask is my choice in a situation such as this.
Will be pleased to post directions if you are not familiar with the process.

[mikelp]

I was working last year on a similiar problem and found a tutorial for using the Background Eraser Brush tool. It is under eraser. It worked great. I don't remember the site put a search on Hair and Background Eraser Brush should find it.

[Andymay]

The attached file is an example of a complex background. How would extract the person with hair only?

I will try the below suggestion. Thanks!

With reference to post #2, it is difficult to provide specific guidance without looking at the picture file.

One approach may be :


Duplicate the background layer
Apply threshold filter to this layer (Filter>Adjustments>Threshold), yielding black & white rendition. Position of the slider is critical and ultimately may require a redo in order to get it right
Apply magic wand tool to select white component
Open blank layer at top of stack and fill with color
Shut off visibility of the b&w background copy layer

The alternative is to make a precise selection of the person, incorporating the hair, of course. A mask is my choice in a situation such as this.
Will be pleased to post directions if you are not familiar with the process.

[Andymay]

quite a few links showed up. Thanks for the suggestion!


I was working last year on a similiar problem and found a tutorial for using the Background Eraser Brush tool. It is under eraser. It worked great. I don't remember the site put a search on Hair and Background Eraser Brush should find it.

[ATR]

Andymay

I lost track of this thread and only now found it again.

You have gotten a lot of good suggestions. The link that I posted assumed an ideal background condition.

Are you a subscriber to Photoshop Elements Techniques Newsletter?
http://www.photoshopelements.com

If you are, you might want to look for an old video tutorial by Dave Cross
"Selections"
Dated April 28, 2006
Although obviously done with an earlier Photoshop Elements versions, the principles still hold. It is an interesting thread that deals with hair selection and the use of varied techniques (including the Threshold Adjustment Layer).

ATR

[Tom K]

You might take a look at

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Russell gives some great tips, including ones on difficult selections.

Tom

[Andymay]

ATR,

Will do, thanks for all your help!

Andy

[Andymay]

Tom,

Thanks for the lead. I've subscribed to his podcast also.

Thanks again

Andy

You might take a look at

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Russell gives some great tips, including ones on difficult selections.

Tom

[Benny Pedersen]

Andymay, I would do that picture something like this.

http://www.fineraw.com/elementsvillage/modified.jpg

Benny

[Andymay]

Thanks, that's pretty cool. Really like the whales.

Andy

Andymay, I would do that picture something like this.

http://www.fineraw.com/elementsvillage/modified.jpg

Benny

[Benny Pedersen]

The shark (or whale) was painted by the burn tool (not that easy).

The other things mostly created by the Clone and Blur Tool...

If more time used, the image result maybe better, but I think it's good to see the person more clear than the background...

Benny,
PS: I think there exist whales and sharks around Hawaii :confused: