How to Use the Photoshop Extract Command to Eliminate Background

There are many ways and tools in Photoshop to remove image background. In this tutorial, we will try the Extract filter and eliminate the background in an image.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop (v5.0 ~ CS4)
• PC platform machine with MS Windows XP or Vista, any edition
• Mouse
• Some experience in digital image editing recommended

1. 
    
   Sample image

   Prepare the image you want to use and load it in Photoshop. I am using the image here as example for this Photoshop tutorial.

2. 
    
   The History window

   First, set source for the History Brush in the History palette, in case you need to do some changes in the future; which you'll see in article Step 6. Open on the main menu the Window option, select Show History on the list. Click on any item in the History window to reveal the tool and action taken for that step. By default, Photoshop auto-saves each history action if you keep History window open. You may also delete any item in History; right-click mouse on any blank area on the History window to bring up the option list.
   
   ** Notes: when not using/unnecessary, and to lower RAM usage and CPU workload, close any "Show" options in the Window list on the Main menu. The History window is one of those, it will keep monitoring and saving each action in your current session if open.

3. 
    
   The extract command in Photoshop

   Returning to our project. On the window main menu, go to Filter > Extract. Notice that in earlier editions of Photoshop (v5.0 ~ v7.0), this is located under the Image option in the main menu.

4. 
    
   Highlighted outline to be extracted

   Pick a brush in the Brush tool window, using a size that is suitable for the image and easy/comfortable for you to work with. You can switch brush size while you are working the outline. Zoom in on the image if you need to see more detail. If your Brushes window is not showing: Window > Show Brushes. Or Window > Show Colors, click the Brushes tab on the Colors window.
   
   Choose the Foreground/Background color sample chip on the toolbox or the Swatches box, and pick a color for your outline.
   
   Draw an outline around the object you want to extract. The outline must overlap both the background and the object. Don't worry if your lines are squiggly. The outline is highlighted on the image.

5. 
    
   Select the Paint Bucket

   Change the Paint Brush tool to the Paint Bucket tool once we finish the outline. Next, using the Paint Bucket to fill the areas that you want to keep. Click the Preview button in the Extract window to see how the object appears after the extract.

6. 
    
   Finished image using the Extract command in Photoshop

   Choose History Brush to restore parts on the outline of the object that were partially erased or wholly erased. If there are stray pixels around the edges, use either the Eraser tool to remove them or go to Filter > Blur > Blur More to soften them. Save edited image with a new file name.
   
   This is the final image.

[Butterfli]

on 6/6/2009 Very cool! Thanks! 5*