I need to remove a white background from some white paper

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
December 26, 2020
5 replies
492 views

I have done most of what I can but the problem is that when I identify the top of the paper is just to close in shade from the bg. Is there a way to make the Quick slection tool more sensitive so that it can leave one shade of white alone?

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Correct answer JJMack

Perfectly removing a white background simple automation But your paper is white you will need to add its white back in.

For your Paper stack. Select Object followed by Shift Select Object, Shift Select Object and add layer mask works well.

christineavatarAuthor

Legend

Thank you JJMack, that was just what I was looking for.

Norman Sanders

Legend

In this alternate solution a mask is made and applied to the object.

Fig 1. Original Image. Make a duplicate layer

Fig 2. Apply Curve to get greater separation between top sheet and background.

Fig 3. Image > Adjust > Invert. Choose Magic Wand to select top sheet.

Fig 4. Fill with White. Choose Curves Highlight eyedropper and click where indicated. Note some residual detail remains.

Fig 5. Choose brush sett to Overlay white to eliminate detail.

Fig 6. Select white, inverse the Selection and fill with black.

Fig 7. Apply it as a mask on the bottom layer original image. Turn off top layer.

christineavatarAuthor

Legend

It is a very simple scene.

christineavatarAuthor

Legend

I need just the paper, not the background. I have already jerry-rigged an answer but it would have been much better is I had been able to just remove the background without 'erasing' it with the lasso tool.

Michael Bullo

Community Expert

What if you temporarily increased the contrast within your scene? Start by adding something like a curves adjustment layer and create a curve that maximises the contrast between your subject and background. Enable the 'Sample All Layers" option for the Quick Selection Tool that can be found within the Options bar running along the top of Photoshop. Having created the selection you can now turn off the visibility or throw away the temporary adjustment layer.