I have a constant problem when isolating objects with Photoshop Elements 5. Every isolated
object has lot of tiny white holes on the rim of the object after i separate it from background.
I am inclined to buy CS2 just for isolating objects properly. What do you think?

vphoto

Well it depends how you cut out the background.

I don't have a lot of time to give explanation cause I'm going to sleep but you can check this thread on the Shutterstock forums.

Cheers,

Math

Depends on how you're doing the isolation.

Are you using something like the magic wand or lasso? Can you give more details?

I am doing isolations with Photoshop Elements 2. And they get accepted. So Elements 5 should be ok. Do not buy CS2 just to isolate objects! I agree with the others. It probably depends on your technique not on Photoshop.

here is how i do:

I go into Full Edit, select Magic Selection Brush Tool F, select the object, do Inverse Selection,
do go to Edit Fill Selection and Fill it with white. Last step Deselect. Then I zoom in the image and see that the time has been wasted, since the brim of the image is punctuated with lots of white wholes. Very frustrating.

vphoto

I think that the best way to isolate objects is to shoot them on white. Isolation at post-processing stage is at best difficult and at worst impossible.

You could try using the blur tool to blur out the pixels. Or just buy a light tent.

Quote from: vphoto on November 19, 2007, 15:32

... select Magic Selection Brush Tool F ...

vphoto

Forget it.

It's near on impossible to get decent isolations with magic brush tool, or the lasso, or any automation. And you are very unlikely to get them past the inspectors if yopu do them this way.

The only way to be sure (if you're going to use this method) is to hand draw the outline with the pen tool. But - depending on what you're isolating - it's a heck of a job.

Quote from: araminta on November 19, 2007, 16:41
I think that the best way to isolate objects is to shoot them on white. Isolation at post-processing stage is at best difficult and at worst impossible.

Thats a bit difficult if you are isolating animals shot at the zoo, children in a playground etc. Not everything can be shot in a studio, yet they are great sellers.

so, since Elements do not have  Pen tool, I need to get Photoshop itself, right ?

vphoto

Quote from: vphoto on November 19, 2007, 03:37I am inclined to buy CS2 just for isolating objects properly. What do you think?

If you got the money, buy CS3! The new "define edge" function is great for isolations.

Quote from: araminta on November 19, 2007, 16:41
I think that the best way to isolate objects is to shoot them on white. Isolation at post-processing stage is at best difficult and at worst impossible.

With Photoshop everything is possible!





Those images are old, I'm sure I would do a better job right now with CS3.

I learned to isolate in a proper way from leaf. He posted how to do it in this thread: http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=232.0 That helped me a lot. Before that I did not know how to isolate. It is not the fast way, but you can use the technique in Photoshop Elements and they accept the images at istock if you do it this way.

Quote from: vphoto on November 19, 2007, 15:32
I go into Full Edit, select Magic Selection Brush Tool F, select the object, do Inverse Selection, do go to Edit Fill Selection and Fill it with white. Last step Deselect. Then I zoom in the image and see that the time has been wasted, since the brim of the image is punctuated with lots of white wholes. Very frustrating.

I never use fill, I just delete the selection, but one important step I think you're missing is using feather (in PSP, I believe it's the same name in PS) to give a smooth transition.

I agree the automated selections don't work well in general.  I often use them for a rough selection, I contract the selection and delete that part.  Then I trace a line manually around the subject, use feather, delete. 

Regards,
Adelaide

Quote from: madelaide on November 19, 2007, 20:45I never use fill, I just delete the selection, but one important step I think you're missing is using feather (in PSP, I believe it's the same name in PS) to give a smooth transition.

I agree the automated selections don't work well in general.  I often use them for a rough selection, I contract the selection and delete that part.  Then I trace a line manually around the subject, use feather, delete.

Feather, exactly, that's what I mean.
Now in CS3 "feather" is "refine edge".(sorry I said "define" in my previous post) But now you get a life preview, saves you a lott of ctrl-z's! 

Quote from: vphoto on November 19, 2007, 03:37
I have a constant problem when isolating objects with Photoshop Elements 5. Every isolated
object has lot of tiny white holes on the rim of the object after i separate it from background.

Jaggies? It sounds so obvious, but did you check the anti-alias checkbox in your selection tool? (a feather of 1 pixel in excess should get rid of all jaggies - excellent for 10MP shots).