Removing background from images

Hi,

I am designing a catalog however the photos have a background, for
example the pictures are of shoes but i can see the table the shoe is
sitting on and the background behind the shoe, is there a way to cut
the shoes out in Photoshop so the background is removed?

Thanks

[Tamlin]

Ask, and ye shall receive:
BioRUST.com :: Tutorials >> Vector Masking

PS: Welcome to BioRUST. (Where are my manners?)

[Koepaard]

Pentool FTW!
Though if you're not used to using it, it might be kinda hard at first ;D

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by Koepaard

Pentool FTW!
Though if you're not used to using it, it might be kinda hard at first ;D

Practice makes perfect.

[Koepaard]

indeed, but if you want a quick sollution, "practise makes perfect" isn't gonna get you that far XD

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by Koepaard

indeed, but if you want a quick sollution, "practise makes perfect" isn't gonna get you that far XD

Generally speaking, quick solutions aren't good and good solutions aren't quick.

[Guardian]

My first attempt at any removal is always "selection" - "color range" then I fool around with the fuzziness setting. Works exceptionally well where the magic wand is used. Not always the right tool but worth a first try. I clean up any left overs with the eraser.
2nd choice is always the pen tool. Good for tweaking anchors to closeness. Along with "selecton"-"expand/contract" and your delete key and then your layer blending options panels you're there.

[Tamlin]

There's also the Extract filter...Quick Mask...Quick Selection tool...Channel Masking...Background Eraser tool...not to mention 3rd party plugins like Fluid Mask, Knockout, SmartMask etc. etc. etc...

[zapphnath]

I hate to toot my own horn, but this may be helpful, here, so...

Using Calculations & Channels To Create Masks
BioRUST.com :: Tutorials >> Using Calculations & Channels

Of course, the viability of this method depends on the colors of the table(s) and shoes and how much contrast is available.

That being said, the Pen Tool would give you the cleanest (i.e., the most professional looking) selection.

[Koepaard]

Originally Posted by Tamlin

Generally speaking, quick solutions aren't good and good solutions aren't quick.

yeah I know, but I thought he might just wanna have something easy so he could just do it quickly
But yeah, if you've got the time:

Originally Posted by Tamlin

Practice makes perfect.

[synthetic]

I use channel calculations for things with definable background and people or animals with fur or hair. On pre CS3.... I use magnetic lasso tool most to create my rough outlines and then go to quick mask mode where I fine tune it with a brush. I used to use magic wand a lot but discovered it was more of PITA to get a good tolerance that works for some images so I rely on magnetic lasso tool more. Either way... to get a nice clean mask... I always use quick mask mode in the end to tidy things up. I have also found its good to use an extra layer on bottom filled with black (delete on save) that helps to show just how good the mask worked before I save it out.

CS3 has that new quick selection tool which is very nice. I use it more than magnetic lasso when on CS3. Bottom line... there are many different ways to outline object for clipping paths (coined term for cutting out images from background in which images are save as .EPS with a vector path that defines the border of the image for use in other graphic programs) in Photoshop... which way you go about it depends on version of Photoshop, the actual image and its contents, and where or how the image will be used.

[Tamlin]

Hmm...I just discovered that this "Alex Ross" guy has posted exactly the same message on dozens of forums. Either he's really really desperate to cut those shoes out, or this is some half-assed attempt at spamming. I very strongly suspect it's the latter, since in the very few forums where he has posted a second time, his post is littered with links to other sites that apparently offer an "image extraction" service - for money, natch!

Well if he tries that crap here, he'll have a nasty surprise...

[Guardian]

Nice catch Tamlin. On the bright side: anyone reading this thread will have added to their knowledge of PS's toolsI have.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by Guardian

Nice catch Tamlin. On the bright side: anyone reading this thread will have added to their knowledge of PS's toolsI have.

Yes indeed - that's why I didn't delete this. In the future, any legitimate poster with the same question can be directed to this thread.