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Posted on 05/01/06 6:19:12 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply  |
Scary Skeletons
Have several skeletons that need to be removed from their backgrounds. I've been doing this via the eraser tool but hope that there is an easier method. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  |
Posted on 05/01/06 8:53:46 PM |
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Atomicfog
Virtual Visualizer Posts: 238 Reply  |
Re: Scary Skeletons
I can tell you that you have a major tough one on your hands. I do alot of green screening in videos I make and sometimes in Photoshop. I am pretty sure THE best solution to this problem isn't Adobe Photoshop, but is instead Adobe After Effects, since it comes with the award-winning Kelight program which works miracles. Here is what I did with it in 1 minute with keylight. If you don't have After Effects (6.5) I would do a few of them for you and put them on top of a transparent layer. 
_________________ -Atomic |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:15:20 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Re: Scary Skeletons
jpg 
png 
I used the Background Eraser Tool to eliminate a lot of the green background set to a tolerance of 30%, Continguous, and Sampling: Once then clicked on the Channels tab and made a copy of the most contrasting channel which appeared to be the Red Channel on this copy of the Red Channel I used Image/Apply Image... set to Overlay which lightens the light bones and darkened the contrasting black areas. I then cleaned up any patchy areas using a Brush set to Black 50% with a Blending Mode of Darken. After some work then I had a channel that could be used as a mask and so clicked the thumbnail whilst holding down Ctrl, then switched over to the Layers Palette and created a mask of the original layer. _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:18:15 PM |
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Atomicfog
Virtual Visualizer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Nice work Maiden, now I have a nice method of keying in Photoshop. I knew that the backround eraser tool and turning up contrast on a channel was the way to go, but I couldn't get it working. Seems like quite a bit of work though. Looks like I forgot to stretch the image in After Effects, I'm going to have to fix that. _________________ -Atomic |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:20:12 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Yes it was, but as they say you get better results if you put in the time. There is still a few artifacts that need cleaning up but not that many. _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:24:48 PM |
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Atomicfog
Virtual Visualizer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Well, I fixed my way in keylight up, I accidently did something wrong, now it's smoother. _________________ -Atomic |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:25:07 PM |
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chris
Photo Parodist Posts: 138 Reply  |
Re: Scary Skeletons
I'm just wondering if jwhite is in possesion of these skeletons or just has images?. If in possesion then placing them on a matt black cloth would surely simplfy the task somewhat, although I appreciate that there very delicate and therefore the less movement the better. |
Posted on 05/01/06 9:27:27 PM |
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Atomicfog
Virtual Visualizer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Looks like they are behind glass in a museum from what I see, but yeah, if he owned them and put them on black (or even better would be bright blue). _________________ -Atomic |
Posted on 05/01/06 11:55:45 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Thanks all for the suggestions! Unfortunately, the skeletons can not moved or disturbed for a photograph, Becky, I'm trying your solution on a high-res version now. Thanks again! John |
Posted on 06/01/06 11:55:26 PM |
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chris
Photo Parodist Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
John Wondered how you got on with Becky's method? I was thinking that what really was making this tricky was the camera flash flare. Thought you could try retaking it and if you have a adjustable flash try bouncing of something rather than direct to advoid the flare. If the flash is built then don't use it and bounce lamp light of something, although you may need to adjust camera light sensitivty to advoid colour distortion. Worth a try maybe. I have had go anyway and found that by using curves I was able to select most of the background with just the magic wand. The only place that was less forgiving was the back left leg where the flare is at it strongest. But still just needed 5mins manual erasing. By the way if its any use to you I have saved it on a transparent layer and could mail you the psd if needed. |
Posted on 06/01/06 11:55:57 PM |
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chris
Photo Parodist Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
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Posted on 07/01/06 00:06:06 AM |
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chris
Photo Parodist Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Ooops! posted wrong effort sorry! try this one.  |
Posted on 08/01/06 6:35:44 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Chris, Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, taking additional photos of the skeletons isn't an option. Still working on the high res version of the image (As time allows). John |
Posted on 09/01/06 2:28:46 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6938 Reply  |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Excellent suggestions, atomicfog, maiden and chris. What great results! |
Posted on 09/01/06 11:06:50 PM |
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DaltonX
Raster Reanimator Posts: 259 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
that was a great idea maiden.... mite have a go at that method myself thanx for that  |
Posted on 12/01/06 11:12:13 AM |
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Storm
* Posts: 15 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
I think personally that I'd bite the bullet and use the pen tool, but that would only be practical if you didn't have a stack of images to work through.  _________________ A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts |
Posted on 12/01/06 12:05:59 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Scary Skeletons
Hmmm... however the time in using the pen tool would have to be balanced against the benefits of getting a really professional mask. The high-res version of this image is bound to make it easier to work with so that tools like the Background Eraser would work better and quicker, I'm all in favour of using the Pen Tool as much as I can but I've no love for spending ages creating a single mask and like to work as efficiently as possible. _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |