How to get better edges when using the magic wand?

[Modeswitch]

I'm just a beginner in PDN, and maybe my questions are rather stupid.

Sorry if I'm posting this thread in a wrong section.

When I'm using the magic wand I never get a result that I'm satisfied with. If I want to place a person on another background, the hair is a huge issue. And also the rest of the person.

What can be wrong with my method? Is there further tools I should use?

Now I just use the magic wand with different percentages, and use the eraser if i get some "dirt".

My results often looks like this (totally random picture):

[Crazy Man Dan]

The Magic Wand only selects similar regions of color, so it can be difficult or even impossible to get a setting that works on photos and doesn't leave anything behind or take out too much.

For those jobs where the Magic Wand doesn't work, there are a couple methods:

Cutting Out Images the Easy Way - Easier

Alpha Masking - Smoother edges on result

They take a little more time, since you have to perform the outline manually on both, but they usually yield much better results... Mainly because you get to make the outline manually. :wink:

One of those tutorials should do what you need.

[Modeswitch]

I don't think I'll be able to do something like this manually, because I'm using a touch pad and I don't have 100 % control with it.

And I don't understand how I would make this even if I had a regular mouse :-)

Edit:

I'm trying out the second link, Alpha Masking, but I need some help here. How do I name layers (only know how to name the whole file), and how do I use a combination of line/curve tool and paintbrush? Should I just use line/curve, then paintbrush, then line/curve again etc?

[david.atwell]

I don't think I'll be able to do something like this manually, because I'm using a touch pad and I don't have 100 % control with it.

Nah, I've used a touchpad with PdN since the beginning, and never had a problem. It takes a bit more time and effort, but you can usually wind up with a pretty good result. (I've often found myself putting my tablet down and using my touchpad instead for several tasks!)

I'm trying out the second link, Alpha Masking, but I need some help here. How do I name layers (only know how to name the whole file), and how do I use a combination of line/curve tool and paintbrush? Should I just use line/curve, then paintbrush, then line/curve again etc?

Select the layer in the Layers window and press the Layer Properties button (:Properties:, on the far right of the Layers window). Then just select the name in the text box and have your way with it!

And yes. You'll want to switch back and forth. Line/Curve will provide a smoother line, but Paintbrush allows for finer detail work.