Hello
I recentally ask the same thing and did a search on google for tutorials. I had the same results, the tutorials make it look easy but could not extract the hair using channels well at all. my background is a mixturwe of dark colors as well is the hair. if you get it done better let me know . Thanks
I have one of the Photoshop books (PS Cheats or something). Their solution for images that don’t have good contrast between the hair and background was to make a selection of the general shape of the hair (not include stray strands). Then, using the smudge tool, draw out some thin wisps and fake it. I would definately do this on a new layer so you can control opacity to make it blend better. I didn’t try the technique myself, but it looked okay in the example they gave.
On images like that, it’s never a pushbutton walk in the park.
We must learn as many techniques as we can stuff into our noggins, then hope we have the discernment skills to be able to know which combination of techniques will work best upon assessing the image.
It’s a long road, and I’m still traveling it.
I have been involved in Photoshop for many years, in fact teach it at a community college, I have tried all the above links as to using channels for masking out flying hair as opposed to the extraction tool and other than for having the convenience of a mask I could go in with an eraser and do it as easily, am thinking of upgrading to CS for my own use, (the college has not done so yet) has anyone tried extraction on CS that can tell me if there is any vast improvement?
Thanks for all the feedback.
Richard
quote "other than for having the convenience of a mask " Richard I hope wholeheartedly that you don’t teach your students to use the eraser instead of a mask 😉
Non-destructive editing is like common sense for me!
I thought the context of my comments made it clear what I was implying, AS I STATED, i have been a serious user of Photoshop for many years, so I would think it obvious I was not suggesting the use of the eraser in place of a mask, (ever hear of hyperbole?)to reiterate, there should be and I still have not received an answer as to whethere there is indeed a less time consuming way to select a subject with flying hair out of a backgound. if not, so be it at this point, but the method proposed with the channels is very ineffective with a low contrast or dark background. Nuff saidI suppose, unless someone can actually answer my previous inouiry as to any improvements in CS
Generally what has to happen is that you have to isolate the image from the background using black and white. In channels you should find the best channel with the most contrast between forground subject and background you want to remove. Duplicate this channel. You may have to invert, use levels, curves, etc on this duplicate. You may also have to use a duplicate of a second channel to pick up details left out by your first duplicate channel. You may have to paste a second or third channel and use blending modes to create the mask you want. You may have to use the dodge and burn tools to whiten the whites and darken the blacks in certain areas.
The extract tool IMHO STILL SUCKS!