Character Extraction ~ Tutorial
This is a simplified, 10 Step, tutorial that teaches you how to do a flawless character extraction. May be time consuming depending on project.
Heavy Graphics
Tools We'll be Using:
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Selecting what to Extract 0. In this tutorial I have chosen to extract an image requested. The things to extract here will simply be the girl character. |
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Getting Started Extracting an image requires 3 layers: Background, Layer 1, and Background copy. 1. First Duplicate your background image. 2. Next Create a New Layer and place it Between your Background Layer and Background Copy Layer. 3. Now finally pick a Medium Color Tone and Color Fill Layer 1. Preferrably a color not already in your image anywhere. I chose purple, but this purple is a bit too dark. Reasoning for Step 3: By selecting a medium tone you will be able to see your extraction edges easier. Black edges will be seen easier for smoother edges, and white edges will be visable incase of error (leading to a better extraction). More about this later. |
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Polygon Lasso Tool The Polygon Lasso Tool works much like a pair of Scissors. Using this, you will be cutting out your object or character. You will see there a various settings to the Polygon Lasso Tool. I usually use the first one (New Selection). I use Shift to add multiple selections (hold down), and I use the 3rd one (Subtract from Selection) when I make an error or add more than I should have. |
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Peices to Cut Remember, Cut = Ctrl + X. That is, hold down Ctrl and press the X Key. 4. Find a place to start cutting out your subject. It could be anywhere. Now zoom in as far as needed to determine the outline. It varys greatly. Sometimes you may only need to zoom in 200%, other times 900%. Select your Polygon Lasso Tool (New Selection), and by clicking across your outline, select the area to be cut away. Double Click to end the area. Note: Holding down your left will drag/move a line. You simply have to click once for the Lasso Tool to create a line and double click to end it. Try a test run first before cutting. 5. After selecting the area, Cut your peice; Remember, that is Ctrl + X. Note: I tell you the shortcut to make this less time consuming. So remember this shortcut. |
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Sample of Cut Area This is the sample of my area after it has been cut. Notice the color from Layer 1 is now visable? If you see white around the cut area where it should not be, take your Polygon Lasso Tool and try cutting again till it is gone. Smooth out lines if needed. |
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Repeat Selection 6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until your image is completely cut out. |
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Black Areas for Outlining These can be tricky, but I prefer these places myself. When you come across an area where an outline matches the background, you will have to determine for yourself where to cut. It does not take a rocket scientist to determine where an outline should be. If you have problems, try zooming out to get a general idea of the image. In some cases you can increase the Brightness to an image (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast) greatly to determine where things end and begin. |
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Excess Background When you finish the outside extraction of the image, you may be left with excess areas of the background. This is easily removable now that all the delicate cutting has been done. |
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Cutting away the Excess 7. Simply cut out the excess areas with your Polygon Lasso Tool as you have been doing with outlining it. The Shift Key comes in handy here. |
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Sample Now things are slightly clearer. Lets finish off the insides of this extraction. |
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Finishing The rest of this is optional of course. 8. Delete the Background Layer. (I left it from start till now incase of emergency) 9. Paint Layer 1 white or another desired color. 10. Goto Image > Trim to trim the excess areas away. This will save file space. And thats it! You now have a nearly flawless extraction (depending on your extraction abilities). |
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