Change the background step by step to a portrait

[Carrito]

I put a green layer but don't observ the gasps

 

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

You have it, your outline worked. You just need to use the Magic Wand, on the Outline Layer, to select the outside of the outline, and then click on your image's layer and run the replace colors plugin.

To help you out a bit, and others who might read this thread, I went through the replies of this thread and tried to re-compile the suggestions into steps. (please note, I might modify the steps still. The below steps might change and be edited.)


How to change the background of a portrait?

Add a Layer.
1) Add a new layer above your image's layer. This will be your outline layer.

Look at this picture's layer window. It shows you the background layer is your image layer, it shows you a new layer has been added above the background layer, and that the added layer is the outline layer. While tracing, the outline layer is the active layer.

http://img110.xooimage.com/files/4/4/5/hairline-01-4d7601a.png

 
2) Trace your subject. How to trace?

3) Be sure you are tracing on the correct layer, your outline layer.
In this screen capture, it looks like the tracing might have accidentally been done on the wrong layer. (Look at the layers window. The outline layer is not the active layer.)
http://www.subirimagenes.com/imagedata.php?url=http://s2.subirimagenes.com/privadas/2338848asus-18112015-1622.png

In one of the attempts to make a selection, it looks like the magic wand was also used on the wrong layer. (Again, look at the layers window. The outline layer is not the active layer. When you get to the magic wand step, you need to use the wand on the outline layer.)
http://oi68.tinypic.com/2gydjjr.jpg

It is very important to make sure you are on the correct layer while trying to do the steps of removing a background.

4) Continuing with how to trace...
-- You can use the paintbrush tool for freehand tracing, or use the line/curve tool as an alternative tool if you aren't very good at freehand tracing.
-- Then Pick a color.
-- Then start tracing.
http://img110.xooimage.com/files/2/f/d/hairline-tracing-4d7a3a3.png

5) When you trace, trace on the inside of your subject.
http://img110.xooimage.com/files/4/4/8/hairline-04-4d7ba9e.png

6) Use a variety of brush widths.
This picture wasn't originally used to demonstrate outlining, so ignore the removed background and which layer is the active layer, the outline is still on the outline layer and the outline layer should be your active layer when you are tracing.
Anyways, my point here is I want you to look at the outline. An outline doesn't need to be super small or thin, it can be almost any width. Just make sure you keep your outline on the inside of your subject. In this picture a variety of brush widths were used and the subject was painted over. The outline layer's opacity was also lowered a little, so that the subject, and where to trace and paint, were easier to see. (To lower the outline layer's opacity, double click the outline layer to open it's layer properties.)
http://s5.postimg.org/ns7dp405z/0294948b_f976_47a5_9eaf_c07b1fb3f5a6_zpsmbsyu2r3.jpg

7) Finish outlining your subject. Be sure it is a completed outline, no gaps or thin spots.

8) Make a selection.

9) To make a selection, first choose the Magic Wand tool .

10) Lower the Magic Wand tool's tolerance.

11) Be sure you are on the outline layer, then click on the outside of the outline.

12) If your outline doesn't protect your subject, and things you don't want selected become selected, then try these ideas :
 
Try lowing the tolerance of the magic wand, then try selecting again, and see if that helps. (try a tolerance anywhere from 0 to 15)
 
If you still have an issue, your outline might have a gap or thin spot somewhere.
 To find the gap or thin spot,
  -- Temporarily add a new layer below your outline layer.
  -- Fill the new layer with a color that helps your outline be easy to see.
  -- Then zoom in super close and look around your outline to see where it might not be connected or might be too thin. (note: Sometimes outlines aren't finished near the edges of the canvas.)
  -- Fix your outline in any potentially poorly outlined areas. (when you fix your outline, be sure you are on your outline layer)
 
13) Once you have a successful selection, keep your selection on, and then click on the image layer.

14) You can remove the background by either simply hitting delete on your keyboard (this will cut off some details like hair), or you can use a plugin that removes color (this is a good idea for subjects with hair or fur).

15) For this particular subject, the Replace Colors plugin was used.
For most color replacing plugins, you can use the color picker tool to first pick the color you want removed, and then run the plugin.
This is a quick and rough example of removing the background with the Replace Colors plugin. Look at the settings to see what was adjusted.
The "Effected Color" was a shade of black.
The "New Color Transparency" is set to 255.
The "tolerance" is set to 23.



Larger version of the image :
http://s5.postimg.org/524dbdwwn/Person_Subject_Replace_Color_Plugin.jpg

16) If the plugin doesn't remove everything, you can use the color picker tool again on the leftover spots, then run the plugin again. (reset the "effected color" by clicking the blue arrow button.)
 
17) If there are still some spots of the background, use the eraser tool   to erase and clean up any remaining background that the plugin didn't manage to remove.

18) After you remove the background, you can deselect and try running the feather plugin to soften the edges of the subject.
 

Congratulations! You have removed the background from your image and cut out your subject.
 

19) Add a new background.

Add a new layer under your subject's layer, and insert your new background.
Your layers would be like this:
Outline Layer.
Subject Layer.
Background Image Layer.

I'm not able to give screen captures of adding a new background at this time. If someone else would like to finish things off by going into details about adding a new background, then that would be nice.

20) Turn off the layers you don't want or need. And then save your image. Save as a pdn to keep your layers, then save again as a png.
 
 
EDIT...
For anyone else who reads this, alternatives to step 19 for different ways to add a new background, can be viewed in these posts :

-- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/32538-change-the-background-step-by-step-to-a-portrait/?p=434024

-- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/32538-change-the-background-step-by-step-to-a-portrait/?p=434032

Edited December 9, 2015 by Cc4FuzzyHuggles

[Carrito]

I put the paint.net file in this link

 

https://mega.nz/#F!1pkTXayK

 

Can you reach the link ?

 

I think this is complete

https://mega.nz/#F!1pkTXayK!rh5oVYKV3fuxYqUVYVmsCA

 

 

Edited November 24, 2015 by Carrito

[Carrito]

Reading and trying the very complete instructions.

I will read everything. 

I was doing things wrong.

Best Regards

[Carrito]

Relax, you will get there. 

 

I am collecting backgrounds like this. Where can I find a good collection ?

[Carrito]

I have a lot of difficulties but it's my fault.

I try this :

from Cc4FuzzyHuggles

19) Add a new background.

Add a new layer under your subject's layer, and insert your new background.
Your layers would be like this:
Outline Layer.
Subject Layer.
Background Image Layer.

I'm not able to give screen captures of adding a new background at this time. If someone else would like to finish things off by going into details about adding a new background, then that would be nice.

20) Turn off the layers you don't want or need. And then save your image. Save as a pdn to keep your layers, then save again as a png.

 

complemented by this

 

 

from Isis

 

I will continue in my design home (getpaint.net)

I will come back according to my agenda before the year ends

Best Regards everyone

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

Thank you! That video works for helping to finish things off.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Cc4FuzzyHuggles

[TFanel]

Just did it, and with some additional touching up!

Great tutorial!  Thanks!

 

As you can see, I still need practice.  I destroyed at least her arm and thumb, by mistake.

Do you guys/gals use a stylus for this, or just a mouse?  My control with the mouse, in regards to GFX, is lackluster, at best.

Original Image:

Edited Image: