Background Help

[Twizzler0171]

Okay. I'm making a set. I've already found the pictures and the background I want.

But as I'm no genius at these sort of things, I'm kinda stuck. I can't get the background the picture came with to erase and show me the background I want it to have... if it was only one color, I'd be fine, but it's not. I don't want to find another background, because this one fits perfectly.

Okay, I guess what I'm asking is: How do I make the background of the picture transparent, so I can see the background I want it to have?

I am using PSP 9 (Trial edition) but, if need be, I can download some other stuff.

Thanks, and I appreciate it.

[AutumnElf]

What I would do is color the background of your picture completely white first, then take the MAGIC WAND (It looks like a wand =P) tool and select the background. Next press CTRL + Z (Or Edit -> Cut) and voila! However, the magic wand tool is not the best thing to use because it leaves jagged edges on your picture.

[Twizzler0171]

Thank you so much! It worked, and I don't think it left jagged edges, either. Again, thank you.

This can be locked now, if you want it to be.

[AutumnElf]

Your welcome.

And what I meant by jagged, is it leaves a your edges looking "pixely", not smooth. However, I don't know a better way to do it so it'll have to work =P

[Alex]

I'm not sure if it comes with PSP 9 (It was in PSP 8 ), but there's a background eraser that is pretty good at erasing backgrounds. It takes a little bit of practice at first, but you soon get the hang of it.

[Twizzler0171]

I had already tried the background eraser, but it ended up erasing the whole thing and leving me with little checkers.

[DM was on fire!]

Try setting your sharpness to 100, or mess with the tolerance of the fill tool and then use the BG eraser.

[vkceankraz]

You can try using a soft edged eraser to just erase around the image, especially after using Autumn Elf's method.
In PS, I use layer masks, but I guess mistakes can be avoided if you simply duplicate your image and hide the original until you need it.

[Twizzler0171]

Thanks for all your help, you guys. I've got it now. And if I ever forget how to do this, it'll be nestled in the Workshop for me to come find again.

Once again, Mods can lock.