How do I change the background of the image?

[ougee]

Hello,
Well I suppose my question will sound stupid for professionals, sorry for that.. But I really need this info, reading Helps in various software didn't help
How do I change the image background in this image

to look it like in this one

In other words how to change backgrounds in photos, is it actually possible? Or do I just have to take pictures in front of the white backgrounds?
Thanks in advance!

 

[ChrisHirst]

Simplest way is to use the magic wand to select areas of the background colour then with either the eraser tool or the color replacer tool work around the part of the image you want to keep. You can zoom in to work closer and closer and keep reducing the tolerance of the selection until you are happy with the results.


Chris.


Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[ougee]

Chris, thanks for your advice! But the problem with the magic wand is that sometimes it deteriorates the object's area. I mean in this case the area of the mask. I think the best results with the magic wand is when the background of the image is homogenous. And if not, what can be other solutions?

 

[mThomas]

Try using the Lasso set to point to point and antialias checked. Work you way around the mask. Then invert your selection and press the delete key on your keyboard.

mike

 

[ChrisHunt]

When I'm making a selection from a photograph, I do this:
[ul]
[li]Use the magic wand to make the initial selection, playing with the tolerance as necessary. Select either the background or foreground depending on what's easiest[/li]
[li]Add/subtract from this initial selection with Selection and Freehand (lasso) tools, holding down [Shift] to add and [Ctrl] to subtract[/li]
[li]Invert the selection if required (Shift-Ctrl-I)[/li]
[li]Use the Selections/Modify/Feather command to soften the edge of the selection a little. Sometimes you'll need to contract or expand it a bit first[/li]
[/ul]
You then have a selection that you can extract from the image and place on whatever background you desire.

Having said all that, you can make life a lot easier for yourself if you take your pictures on as plain a background as possible. In your example pic, you could have tacked a big sheet of white paper to the wall, draped it over the shelf, put the mask on top and taken the pic, or, even easier, just lay it flat on a white tablecloth and photo it from above.

-- Chris Hunt
Extra Connections Ltd

http://www.extracon.com

 

[ougee]

Thanks a lot for your advices!!!