Photoshop: Selecting hair!

py2006

Hope this is the right place for this question!

I am trying to remove a the background from a photograph! In fact I have done this using channels. It looks pretty good, just the hair isn't perfect. To an untrained eye it would prob be fine but an experienced photoshoper might give it the aul "tut tut".

I did manage to improve it somewhat by zooming right in and deleteing the dark pixels (which are part of original background) between some hair. I also used the burn tool to darken some lighter patches around the hair so its not all that bad!

But I would like to know if you guys use any better methods!!

Thanks!

Heebie

I find shaving everyone bald before taking the photo works the best for when I need to edit around hair.

but seriously.. There are only a few tricks I've found that help at all...

Generally I paint in the alpha channel (layer mask) with a graduated brush. Some of the hair itself ends up partially transparent, but it makes a more natural blend than an abrupt edge transition that way.

It is VERY helpful to try & have a background behind the people that is similar to the one that will be there in the finished image.

py2006

Heebie wrote: »

I find shaving everyone bald before taking the photo works the best for when I need to edit around hair.

but seriously.. There are only a few tricks I've found that help at all...

Generally I paint in the alpha channel (layer mask) with a graduated brush. Some of the hair itself ends up partially transparent, but it makes a more natural blend than an abrupt edge transition that way.

It is VERY helpful to try & have a background behind the people that is similar to the one that will be there in the finished image.

Thanks for the reply! Yea I think I have been doing pretty much as you described! Its never perfect but I think its only me that notices it as much! When the image is completed its only myself that knows what the original looks like!

paulydub

If you create an alpha channel using calculations and put it in a blend mode mulitply overlay screen works great depending on the back ground. when painting on the alpha channel if you put the blend mode of the brush in overlay and have it in black paint it wont paint on white and vica versa. I use it all the time for selecting stuff

py2006

paulydub wrote: »

If you create an alpha channel using calculations and put it in a blend mode mulitply overlay screen works great depending on the back ground. when painting on the alpha channel if you put the blend mode of the brush in overlay and have it in black paint it wont paint on white and vica versa. I use it all the time for selecting stuff

Not sure what you mean by putting the alpha channel in multiply overlay screen blend mode? Surely you can only apply one blend mode on a channel/layer? or am I mistaken?

paulydub

Sorry for misleading I meant try using 1 of them multiply overlay or screen blend mode to try and get the best contrast between the hair and the background then try painting black or white with the brush blend mode in overlay.

py2006

paulydub wrote: »

Sorry for misleading I meant try using 1 of them multiply overlay or screen blend mode to try and get the best contrast between the hair and the background then try painting black or white with the brush blend mode in overlay.

Ah right thanks for that! will give it a go!

paulydub

http://www.alittlephotoshop.com/videos/creating-a-white-background-with-a-channel-mask/

this is a good video for it as well

sdra001

I use it all the time for selecting stuff