Masking subject and shadow from stock photos

S
Posted By
SamCKayak
Feb 13, 2008
Views
314
Replies
3
Status
Closed
istockphotos seem to have white backgrounds. I like to remove the white background, and retain the shadows of the subject.

I don’t have any problem capturing the shadows ctrl + alt + ~ invert the selection, then fill with black

So the shadows are in a layer. Now I need the subject in a layer over the shadows but it can be very difficult to isolate a mask the image subject as the shadows usually adjoin the image.

Are there any good tricks for the 2nd step.. masking the subject and not the shadows?

KC

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Photon713
Feb 14, 2008
KC…check out AKVIS Smartmask..it may do what you’re looking for.

Bob


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"SamCKayak" wrote in message
istockphotos seem to have white backgrounds. I like to remove the white background, and retain the shadows of the subject.
I don’t have any problem capturing the shadows ctrl + alt + ~ invert the selection, then fill with black

So the shadows are in a layer. Now I need the subject in a layer over the shadows but it can be very difficult to isolate a mask the image subject as the shadows usually adjoin the image.

Are there any good tricks for the 2nd step.. masking the subject and not the shadows?

KC
K
KatWoman
Feb 14, 2008
"SamCKayak" wrote in message
istockphotos seem to have white backgrounds. I like to remove the white background, and retain the shadows of the subject.
I don’t have any problem capturing the shadows ctrl + alt + ~ invert the selection, then fill with black

So the shadows are in a layer. Now I need the subject in a layer over the shadows but it can be very difficult to isolate a mask the image subject as the shadows usually adjoin the image.

Are there any good tricks for the 2nd step.. masking the subject and not the shadows?

KC

Mask the entire subject leave out the shadow
then use drop shadow from effects palette to simulate the shadow

or copy paste the shadow only to a layer below the subject

or on a new layer
use a lasso tool (softly feathered) to approximate the original shadow and fill with black or gradient
use the opacity slider and/or layer blend mode to get your desired effect
JP
Jean Pierre Daviau
Feb 17, 2008
"SamCKayak" a

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