Help Needed Re: Cropping

[rhinochopig]

I'm hoping the good people of the Photo forum can help me.

I'd like to get a picture of my wife enlarged and framed as a Christmas present, but I'm having some problems.

The picture of her is one of her sat on a chair putting her shoes on as we were getting ready for a ball - she wasn't aware that I took the picture. The problem I've got is that I want to crop out just her and the chair she's sat on and then paste it onto a clean sheet for printing.

The question is how do I do this? I only ever use PS to adjust levels and the like so am a complete numpty when it comes to this sort of thing.

So far I've tried:

• The magic wand - selected too much other crap.

• Spent an hour with the mag lasso - when pasted left lots of jaggies, which blurring made worse.

• Tried extract which left too much other stuff.

Given you see this done lots in the media and is flawless, how do I do it without all the additional artefacts and jaggies that I seem to be getting.

Thanks in advance.

[Dave^]

Try some of these....

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/blrem...

[andy-xr]

Download either Mask Pro or Cut it Out by OnOne Software

It'll look a bit bleak on it's own though against a white background, especially if there's any shadow or lighting on your subject

[Simpo Two]

The automatic methods might get confused by a fussy background.

I'd use the polygonal lasso tool set to about 2px feather, then invert the selection and paint the b/g white. But there are probably a million other ways to it!

[...Mole...]

I use the Pen tool, it may take longer but I personally find it more accurate.
The big problem you may have will be with flyaway hair, I think there are a few plug-ins to help with that though.

[rhinochopig]

Thanks chaps. I want it to look bleak. I will be doing it as black and white with very sharp contrast.

I'll give some of the methods a try. I'll be back again when I get stuck over the weekend

[Simpo Two]

You want your wife to look bleak?



Still, you'll have lots of time in the new year as a single man to practice your PS skills

[Dave^]

Simpo Two said:

You want your wife to look bleak?



Still, you'll have lots of time in the new year as a single man to practice your PS skills

I agree with the 'million ways to do it' though....

I've not really done a lot with PS, but I've been having a bit of a play with it this week and I love it.....

You think you've done something well, only to find out later that you can do it quicker and easier another way....

Anyone know of any really good useful tutorials?

[Simpo Two]

Dave^ said:

I agree with the 'million ways to do it' though....

Photographing her in a seamless white room would be my favourite.

Unfortunately my seamless white room is about 200 miles from you, otherwise you could have called in and had a go.

[rhinochopig]

Simpo Two said:

Dave^ said:

I agree with the 'million ways to do it' though....

Photographing her in a seamless white room would be my favourite.

Unfortunately my seamless white room is about 200 miles from you, otherwise you could have called in and had a go.

Thanks for the offer, but the problem is that it was just one of those chance moments. Because she's very tall 6' and was wearing quite a short dress, she just looked very elegant - long limbed. Unfortunately when posing for a photo, she has more my ability, which is to look slightly learning disabled - honey if you ever read this thread I'm kidding

[Dave^]

rhinochopig said:

she's very tall 6' and was wearing quite a short dress, she just looked very elegant

We don't believe you, we need evidence!

(Sorry to drag this down to 'The Lounge' level!)