Photo Editing Tips on Removing Backgrounds
There is not one sole method to properly remove the background of an image. The process depends on the available photo editing tools, the image you need to edit and your desired final output. Numerous tips and tutorials on the Internet walk you through the process of image background removal in various platforms. It is important to find one that will help you achieve a satisfying result.
Using Mask
Use photo editing software such as CorelDRAW and Adobe Fireworks to remove the background of an image using the applications' corresponding mask tools. Use these tools if you are removing the background color of a bitmap image.
In CorelDRAW, use the eyedropper tool to select the background color you want to remove before clicking on the "Bitmap Color Mask." You may notice that a few specks of the image background are retained. Simply adjust the tolerance of the mask to clean this up.
Another way to do this is via Adobe Fireworks. Instead of the eyedropper tool, work with the magic wand tool and adjust the tolerance depending on the image quality. Set "Edge" to "Anti-Alias" for a smoother output. Once you have selected the bitmap background you wish to remove, select the inverse and turn it into a vector shape. Click "Group as Mask" on the "Modify" menu to reveal the final image sans the background color.
Using Extract Tool
Adobe Photoshop is another useful application that will help you remove a cluttered background of a picture. You have to use the "Extract" option for this purpose by opening the "Image" menu.
Trace around the image you want to extract with a marker tool found at the upper left corner of the "Extract" dashboard. Drag the marker tool around so that it equally covers the outline of the image you want to retain and the adjacent part of the background. Afterward, use the bucket tool to fill in the area you want to retain. Click "OK" to execute the changes. You might find a few rough edges that need retouching. Use the eraser tool and the history brush to manually clean up the new image.
Using Online Tools
Online image editing utilities such as Pixlr and FotoFlexer can be used to retouch and edit photos whenever a more reliable photo editing software is out of reach. One of the things you can do with these online tools is background removal. These image editing utilities have user-friendly flash-based dashboards but they are not meant to replace your favorite image editing software in terms of quality.
Using Background Removal Tool
Microsoft Office 2010 features the option to edit images for your documents and presentations without using a more complicated photo editing software. Now you simply need to insert the image into your document or presentation, select it and click the "Background Removal Tool" under the "Picture Tools" icon. It may not produce images as presentable and accurate as when they are done in a photo editing software, but it sure is an amusing feature for a word processor.
