Remove a background

[1234]

Is there a way to remove the white background so that it is transparent? I've got 5 or 6 that would need this done!

[Damien Symonds]

There are several ways, yes.  Can you tell me a bit more about the job?  For what purpose do they need to have transparent backgrounds?

[1234]

They want to use it for a hand out given to people who are adopting DQ'd service dogs (with training tips etc.) It will be going on a bright or dark teal background.  I think it will be printed on a normal office printer but I am not sure.

[Damien Symonds]

I urge you to avoid transparency if possible.  It's hard to do, and impossible to do well.  Try to ask them for the exact colour they need, then you and I will work together to change the background to that colour.

[1234]

Ok!  I will ask them if they NEED a transparent background, I have a PDF of the file they are using so I will try to  grab the colour from there

[1234]

Ok this is one of the teals (that this picture will go on)

Edited June 2, 2020 by 1234

[Damien Symonds]

First, make a marquee selection across the top of the image, then add a Solid Color on that area, with the colour you showed me.

Then add a Levels layer below that Solid Color layer, and use the white eyedropper to turn the white (and the dog!) into teal.

Then mask around the dog carefully.

Then turn off or delete the Solid Color layer.

[1234]

Woah! That looks awesome!  Okay so I did the rectangle with the teal colour, added a levels layer below it, double clicked the white eye dropper - but I can't select the teal colour? What am I missing?

[1234]

Update: I typed in the numbers for the colour and got it to work! Are you supposed to be able to click on the colour rectangle to get the right real colour?

[Damien Symonds]

Yes. You need to read my linked instructions very carefully.

[1234]

ah I think I see what I did wrong... my first go at it

[Damien Symonds]

There's just a little light patch on the right-hand side I can see, where the front leg meets the back leg.

[1234]

Fixed!

[1234]

Ok so I tried it with the darker teal and it has created a very harsh line around her fur - I tried to reduce the opacity and brush black onto the line but it created a bit of a halo around her (but still with a harsh line) but maybe my brush wasn't small enough?

[Damien Symonds]

Because that particular photo doesn't have floor shadows, you could do it with a plain solid colour layer instead of levels.

[1234]

Sorry! Will post my versions later - things have just been a bit crazy!

[1234]

Okay so these are the other two that I did - solid colour worked much better - not perfect but I realized it was going to be a tiny photo on the handout.

The second on was much more straight forward!

[Damien Symonds]

Nice.