Author Topic: isolating objects (Read 7912 times)

jwsc101 · « **on:** August 20, 2010, 09:32 »

Hello everyone again.

I am hopeing that someone can help me. I have taken a close-up of an object for a microstock picture but the white background is not perfect. I have read references to isolating the object in photoshop (i have elements).

Please could anyone tell me the easiest way to get the perfect white background?

Thanks a lot

cmcderm1 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2010, 10:21 »

In-Camera: Blowout the background with light and set your exposure to a +1/3 or +2/3. Use a custom white balance on your background material.

In Elements: Use levels and pick the white eyedropper, and click on the darkest part of the white background.

I'm not an expert, but these will get you close - more work would probably need to be done too.

Chad

mtkang · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2010, 10:28 »

It doesn't need to be pure white (255,255,255), as long as it is white enough to make the item isolated then it is okay. If you want to make it pure white then the best way is to use something like using pen tool.

Quote from: jwsc101 on August 20, 2010, 09:32

Hello everyone again.

I am hopeing that someone can help me. I have taken a close-up of an object for a microstock picture but the white background is not perfect. I have read references to isolating the object in photoshop (i have elements).

Please could anyone tell me the easiest way to get the perfect white background?

Thanks a lot

jwsc101 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2010, 10:51 »

oko thanks, so please could you critique this for me. I have adjusted levels but shadows are still apparent, I presume that;s ok?

Is it starting to look a bit overexposed though?

Dreamframer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2010, 11:04 »

It depends very much on lighting equipment you have and the object you shoot. It's always better to setup everything correctly when you shoot than to edit it later in photoshop. One could use several methods even on the image above. You got a strong shadow below pancakes, and lighter one on the sides. For this image you could even try to isolate the object with a mask. Do you know how to do it? Or maybe select color range...
Also, there are tons of tutorials. Just google it.

kingjon · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2010, 11:13 »

You're getting multiple shadows. I doubt many sites would accept the image as is. I would isolate it. I'm not familiar with the tools in elements. It should be relatively easy to select most of the background since your subject is relatively dark. You can use a variety of tools to get rid of those extra shadows ( I tend to get rid of all shadows to avoid noise rejections). Eventually, you will find that isolating in camera is the best choice. I use a home made light table for that. When I isolate an object in post processing, I usually use the pen tool. It's akward to use at first but once you've used in a while you get pretty efficient at it. There are plenty of tutuorials on how to use the pen tool so I won't go into details.

Regards,

John

donding · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2010, 11:17 »

On that particular photo I would use the bucket tool first and click the white areas. Then what it wasn't able to get with it , I would use the dodge tool.

donding · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2010, 11:20 »

I really doubt any site would accept that with the shadows. You also got shadows on the white area in between the pancake stack not just along the bottom. You don't want those flash shadows.

the808state · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:32 »

Use magic wand tool, set your tolerance to about 15 and make sure you click on anti-alias

Then click on white area in background, then hold down shift key and keep clicking on the areas that you want to include in the selection.

when you have the area selected , hit delete key (a fill box pops up: make sure the top selection is white - contents: use: white) then click OK

hope this helps

FD · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2010, 22:05 »

Quote from: the808state on August 20, 2010, 12:32

set your tolerance to about 15

That's a fine way to destroy a shot, and another one to destroy it is dodging (the edges).

red · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2010, 00:37 »

Exactly! Never dodge or use the magic wand tool for isolation. Enlarge to 400% or more and you will see how destructive these methods are. Learn to do a real clipping path or an alpha channel (unfortunately jpgs don't support alpha channels but you can use them to create a white background and then flatten the image). Or, better yet, light the shot correctly for a soft shadow and leave it in.

madelaide · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2010, 17:49 »

jwsc101,

You should start with a well lit image, with little shadow, so editing later is just an adjustment. The sample you show here, which I understand was already edited, has shadows between the layers of pancakes that will not be accepted even if you manage to produce a white background by edition.

stormchaser · « **Reply #12 on:** August 21, 2010, 19:17 »

Quote from: FD-regular on August 20, 2010, 22:05

Quote from: the808state on August 20, 2010, 12:32
set your tolerance to about 15
That's a fine way to destroy a shot, and another one to destroy it is dodging (the edges).

jwsc101 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2010, 03:37 »

Thank you all for your really helpful responses. I am learning loads every day!

qwerty · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2010, 05:24 »

Quote from: jwsc101 on August 22, 2010, 03:37

Thank you all for your really helpful responses. I am learning loads every day!

just don't tell Sjlocke

FD · « **Reply #15 on:** August 22, 2010, 06:52 »

Quote from: qwerty on August 22, 2010, 05:24

just don't tell Sjlocke

The "don't dodge" rule came actually from sjlocke. I tried it out and he was right.

qwerty · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2010, 05:39 »

Quote from: FD-regular on August 22, 2010, 06:52

Quote from: qwerty on August 22, 2010, 05:24
just don't tell Sjlocke
The "don't dodge" rule came actually from sjlocke. I tried it out and he was right.

My poor attempt at humor didn't come off.
If you've shown that you've made a bit of an effort Sjlocke is one of the most helpful people around here and Istock forum. Hence the wink.

Freedom · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2010, 21:54 »

The shadows are acceptable as long as it does not have a lot of noise and artefacts.

Example: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10804968-red-car.php

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Author Topic: isolating objects (Read 7912 times)

jwsc101

cmcderm1

mtkang

jwsc101

Dreamframer

kingjon

donding

donding

the808state

FD

red

madelaide

stormchaser

jwsc101

qwerty

FD

qwerty

Freedom

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