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tracing hair


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levon

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in photoshop or the gimp etc. what are some methods of removing the background from behind a digital photograph while retaining the hair line and keeping the hair detail

thanks, levon
 
Pick a channel which presents good contrast between hair and background.
Duplicate the channel and try and improve that contrast using levels, curves whatever.

Then turn that channel into a selection mask. You can then tidy up the mask with the pencil/ brush tools until it matches the required hairline exactly.

Also try the extract filter (although it isn't really a filter). Turn on the smart highlighting option and play around, it can work quite well!

A good book can describe these kinds of techniques well, with good examples. Try the 'Inside Adobe Photoshop...' books (I have number 4 which is pretty good) or the Photoshop Bible, both will cover several methods of creating selections of awkward things.

CC
 
This is probably one of the trickiest things to do with PS. The above mentioned method is a good one, yet, choosing a cha,,el can be difficult as quite often one channel is best for some details, and another one for others. (don't forget you have also CMYK and LAB channels!).
In case a combination of two channels would be better, open the calculate option, load both and save as new channel. YOu can play here with the blend modes.
 
The pen tool bud [stuned] ,ah and stroke with a paint brush etc,right? :)



When painting your copied channel I find inverting the channel occasionally and painting a little and inverting back again works quite ncely as well :D
 
Captain Chickenpants has given you the best answer for this. Channel methods do the same thing (usuallybetter actually) that 3rd pary plugs do.

But remember hair at its edges is transparent - so sometimes you need to alter the hair itself to make it 'fit' with the background. One method is dodging and burning - also adjustment layers can be added with a mask to darken or lighten those troublesome edges.
 
Welcome levon! :)

Yep, this is one of the most difficult things to convincingly accomplish! As to how realistic you want your extraction to be will inevitably be dependent on how much time and effort you are willing to put into the job and how important the job is. :)

Various situations will call for various different techniques and as you play with those that have been posted here, you'll come to know what method works best, dependent on the complexity of the background and the amount of hair "whispies" involved.

The only other "tip" I would offer up to Captain Chickenpants' method and markzebra's tips (where the detail of the hairline is concerned) would be to also try hand painting the finer whispies that fade into the background and then use a blur brush to blend. Play with opacities and strengths. Naturally, you'll be working at 1600% magnification if using 1 pix brushes. For this kind of finer detailed work, I've also favoured using the smudge and eraser...again, playing with various strengths and opacities.

It may seem like painful and tedious work, but it's this kind of extra effort and attention that produces natural and realistic results! ;)

How far you wish to go with this, is strictly up to you!
 
I did the following for a challenge in about an hour with many of the techniques Wendy described, and a couple "speed" tricks I've picked up over the years.

Hair IS a challenge, but a good skill to practice to perfect...
 
[saywhat] Given the complicated background, madster, and the time constraints... that's an A+ job! :righton: :}
 
Thanks, Wendy!
Looking at it now that some time has passed, I see a lot more I could have done, but honestly, after an hour, I was tired of the effort it was taking.
 
Ha! Not with THAT background! But hey, feel free to prove me wrong and extract her hair from all that equipment...it's easy to armchair time estimate on how long something should take.
 
Hey, feel completely free to start the clock, take the image and see what you can do in 10-15 minutes. I'm sure we'd ALL love to see how much CAN be accomplished...of course, you'd be on your honor to time accurately... :\ :bustagut: :bustagut:
I mean, y'all talk a good extraction time of 10 minutes...care to back it up?
 
I don't understand why you should make fun of their comments?
That time seems quite reasonable.
 
Given the lack of contrast between hair and areas of the background, I think madster did a commendable job in an hour. I think 5 -10 minutes might produce some extraction, but not as well done as madster's. As was said before, it all depends on the amount of time and effort you are willing to put into the project.
 
:\ sure anybody can extract in 10-15 mins... but to do so 'convincingly' from this very busy background.... [confused]

I stand by my observation and comment of 10/15, madster! ;)

[shhh] I know that it would have taken me longer to achieve similar or equal results...
 
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