Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Tutorial : Isolating objects in Photoshop

pisagor · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 119

I agree that Rinder's way is best if you are after quick isolation.
I have isolated this one with Rinder way :)

oddech · Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Poland / Warsaw

Rinder, if I could I would give you Oscar for this trick. Works perfect :)

budgaugh · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 659 Location: New Hampshire

My first shutterstock isolation. Thanks for the great advice everyone.

[/img]http://thumb8.shutterstock.com/photos/display_pic_with_logo/78384/78384,1184449822,1.jpg[img][/img]

budgaugh · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 659 Location: New Hampshire

There we go.

historicus · Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Rome

I want just to thank fezaa for his great link to Russel Brown's technique tutorial for advanced masking the background.
Only after studying this tutorial I'm happy with my results.
Maybe it takes more time then the usual tools that are referred here but this technique, combined with a good tablet (Walcom Inuos3) gives really stunning, highly professional, results.

chode · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 60

Has any of you tried Filters > Extract filter. Zoom in 700%, select SMART HIGHTLIGTING, then draw the line over edges, use paint bucket tool (in that filter of course) and spill the paint (mask) in what you want to preserve. Click OK, and the background is gone.

In some cases it works pretty well. :)

ff434 · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 7

modellocate · Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 14

I do it much the way you say, but I have a trick that helps me find almost-white areas.

1. Create an adjustment layer Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels...

2. Set the shadow input level to 253 . You'll notice that everything that is not white goes dark - don't panic. Click OK.

3. Set the opacity of this layer to 50% or so.

Now you will see your image, but the surrounding areas that are almost white will be very noticeable-- as you whiten them, they will go to pure white even with the helper layer enabled.

I hope this makes sense and helps -- it has been a great improvement for me.

kenny123 · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:04 pm

-To Isolate Objects against a white background:

Photograph your object using any background, Then:

a) Zoom in 200-300%.
b) Use the pen selection tool to chart an exact path around the object.
Get it perfect.
c) Click on working path Icon in paths palette
d) Select> Modify> Contract by 2 pixels. Smooth by 3-5 pixels.
e) Select> Inverse-. Feather by 0.2 - 0.5 pixels.
f) Press D
g) Press Delete.

You now have isolated object on white background

Regards, Ken

wotan · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

I use a technique that is both quick and efficient. Sometimes I use a combination of tools. The main method I use is the quick mask tool at the bottom of the toolbar. It's easy to switch between regular selection modes, and the quick mask. You can edit your selection using the brush tool, and white or black to either add or remove the mask. Usually I use the paint bucket to fill the area and then remove the mask to reveal the object. If it's a uniform color, use the magic wand, adjust the tolerance, and switch to quick mask to tidy it up. Lasso is another tool that works well with quick mask. Simply trace around the object, and fine tune it, with the brush in quick mask. The best thing about this method is the speed and efficiency that it gives.

turbodls1ta · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 440 Location: T'exas, y'all

I dont know if this has been asked yet or not, but Im using Photoshop Elements 4.0 and there is no option to adjust the Curves. I have been using the magnetic lasso but there is still always a ton of cleanup left for afterwards.. Is there an easy way for 4.0 or a link to show how using this version?

mg7 · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 1204 Location: Ontario, Canada