Removing background on a tough photo

[BlakesDesigns]

I need to remove the background from this photo so it's just the dogs. I usually just use the magic wand, but some of the background color is too close to the dogs' colors. I've heard about masking, but don't know how to use it. Is there a tutorial? Would this photo be hard to do? Thanks for any help.

Here's a small look at the photo. I have the original hi-res image.

[david.atwell]

You want "cutting out images the easy way," which can be found via http://searchpaint.net (something you should get very well acquainted with). :-)

Does that work for your purposes?

[Crazy Man Dan]

Well, there's masking, and there's pseudo-masking, and there's a tutorial for each.

Both of them entail using the Line/Curve tool to trace around the part you want to cut out, but one uses the Magic Wand and Feathering to cut out and smooth the subject, where the other fills in the entire area and uses the Alpha Mask Importer to hide the background. You can give both a try, and find out which one works better for you.

Cutting Out Images the Easy Way

Alpha Masking

If I were to suggest one, of course I'd choose the Alpha Masking option, but that's mainly because I wrote it. The "Easy Way" method is certainly easier, and it's up to you whether the benefits of using Alpha Masking are worth the extra time.

Cheers.

(I see d.a beat me to the response, but he didn't mention me, so I'm posting anyway. )

[BlakesDesigns]

Thanks to both of you. The image they use in the "easy way" has nice straight lines, which my photo does not, so that might make that method difficult. I'll take a look at the alpha masking too.

[oma]

sweet puppies. adorable.

one thing I've found when you do cut out the easy way and the colors are real close. is to make two layers of your picture. bottom one the dogs and background as it is.

then one over top of that color>solorize this makes colors that are close in value pop against each other. You will then delete this layer out after you've done you outline on a new layer.

good luck on your project I'd be interested in seeing the final project.

ciao

OMA

[BlakesDesigns]

Thanks, Oma. I think that solarizing is a good possibility. I'm interested to see how this will come out. It will be made into a framed tile mural. I also have individual pictures of the dogs that will go on custom stockings. I'll show the final results.

[Ash]

If those are your dogs, or you can easily take their pictures again.

Take it with a mono color background lots of contrast with the objects/subjects.(Green)

Good photo habits always make adjusting and such much much easier.

[BlakesDesigns]

I wish I could. I usually do that with photos of products for the websites when I want to rip out the background. Those are my parent's dogs, 800 miles away, and I took the photo when I was up there last week for Thanksgiving. I'm not having any luck with the masking. I haven't tried solarizing. Is that a plugin?

[Ash]

Yes, it's a plugin in Ed's pack.

Can you link to the full size photo?

[BlakesDesigns]

Sure, here it is.