Recommend the best extraction tutorial CS4

[sarah_michelle_larsen]

<p>Hi.<br>

I need to extract some people from their backgrounds. Some of them has wild hair, and on some of the photos there are thick shadows behind them.<br>

I use Adobe Photoshop CS4.<br>

I tried a few tutorials, but they lack a little bit, so I end up drawing their hair or half their face myself.<br>

A video is preffered, but if the best is not a video then it's ok.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

 

[denisgermain]

<p>chances are the tutorials are fine.... but the source image wasn't setup so an extraction would be easy!<br>

sounds like you'll have to use a whole lot of channels and a good old brush - try using a Wacom tablet for that</p>

[patricklavoie]

<p>as Denis said, .. good luck. Not all subject are meant to be *extract* if you want it to look natural..to be honest, if you dont have a perfect condition to start with, 99% of the time whatever the method you will use it will look fake... maybe you dont have a choice? try you tube or google on the subject.</p>

[sarah_michelle_larsen]

<p>I know what you mean. Some of Russel Bwowns look ok though..<br>

Will try them first.<br>

Thank you for info.</p>

[tar heel]

<p>There are some software packages that do this very well, but I do not remember their names. Anyone know what PS add-ons can do this?</p>

[mirek_elsner1]

<p>I would start with Katrin Eismann.<br>

http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/remove_backgrounds/index.html</p>

 

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>There's a whole book on the subject - "Masking and Compositing in Photoshop" by Katrin Eismann.</p>

[Kent Shafer]

<p>I've found the Topaz ReMask 2 plug-in useful. It can't perform miracles though.</p>

[kyleweems]

<p>there is a plugin called liquid mask that does a pretty nice job, but it takes a while to get use to and to master using.</p>

[tar heel]

<p>YES! Fluid Mask is it. http://www.vertustech.com/ I saw this demoed at Mac World a few years ago and it's amazing. It'll mask smoke, etc.</p>

[sarah_michelle_larsen]

<p>Thank you very much for all the good links and suggestions. I will try it all and see what works for me. To extract something is in my opinion very very boring and a waste of time. But when it's over and if the result is perfect, then it's nice enough:-)</p>