On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:57:03 -0000, "SS"
wrote:
I am happy enough with the scissor picture but would like to make the background white.
Link below.
How can I do this? I tried with layers but got messed up with not knowing what I am doing.
I could use the polygonal lasso but this takes ages and I have several similar to do.
Help appreciated.
thanks
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/scudo/AA%20Dates/Copy ofSupra.jpg
You are approaching this from the wrong direction. You’ve created a problem with your photographs that makes the solution very complex. What you want to do is knock out the current background and insert a layer filled with white under that. That takes you where you want to be.
Your problem is that your photograph is very poorly lighted and the scissor color is too near the background color. There are shadows and tonal difference in the background. That makes the easy solutions of using the Magic Wand or the Background Eraser impossible because any tolerance setting will take too much or too little.
You are left with making a Selection of the scissors with a Layer Mask, Quick Mask, Pen Tool, etc. and knocking out everything except the Selection. Then your white-filled layer will show through. That’s a tedious process with several images.
Instead of using white paper, use a colored construction paper* background. Use green or blue or red so there is a pronounced difference of color between the scissors and the background. Then you can use the Magic Wand or the Background eraser to knock out the color and let the white-filled background layer show through. Use a medium-dark shade of color minimize shadows. Not too dark, though, because you have shadows on the rounded scissor handles.
There are other photographic techniques, like using a gray card in the image where you can use Curves, but I don’t get the impression that you are up to this. Go for the simple solutions.
Take the tags off before you photograph. If you want to put identification or price in the image, do it with a type layer.
Rather than do photographs of all the items, take a photograph of one item on different backgrounds. Determine which background allows you to do the knock-out easiest, and then shoot the group of item.
* Get a smooth paper and not a grainy paper. If there’s an art or crafts store nearby, pick up a piece of foam board with a blue side. I’ve used that for photographing sterling silver and it works well.
—
Tony Cooper – Orlando, Florida