Best way to extract an image? CS2

247 views7 repliesLast post: 8/8/2007
Looks okay to me. I'd go in and do a little edge cleanup. You have some jagged pixels here and there.

There are lots of ways to make a selection. I probably would have used the Pen instead of the Polygon. Takes some practice, but better in the long run, IMHO.
#1
Hi,

I think this is my first question on this forum, though I frequent the InDesign forums a bit more.

I was given this photo:

www.freelancebookdesign.com/before.jpg

and needed to extract the equalizer. This is what I managed to do:

www.freelancebookdesign.com/after.jpg

I simply used the polygon selection tool, after a number of failed attempts with the extract filter.

Has anyone got a better way of accomplishing this than I did, and with better results?

Go easy, I'm a noob with Photoshop.

Thanks
Ariel
#2
(the first image is a 1.3MB download)
#3
Either choose Make Selection from the Paths palette flyout menu,

or, with the Path layer "selected" in the Paths palette, click on the selection icon on the bottom,

or Ctrl-click on the preview thumbnail in the Paths palette,

or (my favorite) Ctrl-Enter.
#4
.... or right-click it and choose "Make selection" (my favourite) ;)
#5
Thank you Ed. So sounds like I'm on the right track.

Now, the pen tool: in fact, I did try that quickly, and I've just tried it again. But I can't make it define a selection. It only defines a shape. That's why I went for the polygon tool in the end.

How do you make the pen tool mark out a selection rather than a shape?
#6
Thank you both very much for your help.

Ariel
#7
Ariel,

But I can't make it define a selection. It only defines a shape.

What Ed and John are referring to are ways to convert an existing selection to a path but I think you wondered how to draw a path with the pen tool?

In the Options bar click one of three choices: paths, shapes or pixels. I think you had shapes selected, not paths...

Regards,

Ronald
#8