Batch removing gradient backgrounds?

[raisincrusade]

Hey folks! I've been trying to solve this problem for 2 weeks now. I was starting to think there just isn't an easy solution but i figured i'd ask the photoshop gurus!


So my problem is this, i have about 10,000 product images. My boss wants the backgrounds removed but I don't have contact with the last guy that did this job so im unable to get my hands on the original images. I contacted the dealers and they can't seem to help me either. Which leaves me with one course of action, removing the backgrounds from 10,000 images myself. I'm familiar with a few methods of automating this process(when there's solid backgrounds) but they won't help me here. Most of these products have gradient/twotone backgrounds, so either one half of the background gets removed, or the entire image ends up transparent.




Photoshop gurus! Is there any solution that comes to mind, or will i have to suck it up and do 10,000 images manually? Thanks either way!

 

[hawkeye]

That looks like a watermark to me, it extends over the entire image.

 

[raisincrusade]

Pretty much. It's fine if it stays over the car(VIS is our manufacturer). The boss just wants the backgrounds removed.

 

[raisincrusade]

Thanks! I figured this was the case and had manually already. Confirmation is nice though.
Here is what i was going for by the way.