Removing background from photo

There is no easy way to do this eventhough it seems pretty basic.  You could create a Clipping Path mask in Illustrator.  It is tedious and takes a little time either in Illustrator or Photoshop.  However, I would use Photoshop because it is more accurate and forgiveable than an Illustrator Clipping Mask.  If there is not enough contrast in Phootoshop, you could use the Eraser tool and paint around the breadsticks ( double click the Layer and make it "0", this will create a transparent background, just remember to save as .psd ).  You shoukd see a checkered background as you work erasing.  Once you have a transparent area around the breadsticks and plate, use the Lasso tool to select the entire background and delete it.  If you insist on doing it in Illustrator, you should use the Pen tool to create anchors around the image and then manipulate each one to follow the contours of the breadsticks and plate.  Once you have a solid path created, select Path > make ( or Create ) Clipping Mask.

Nikki,

To elaborate on the drawing/clipping way mentioned by Kurt, in this particular case, I would start by trying to do it without Photoshop as follows, using a small Stroke Weight and a Stroke Color contrasting all the crucial parts (such as red) and no Fill:

1) For the plate: with the Ellipse Tool press Alt/Option and ClickDrag roughly from the centre of the plate (you may start at the little pale knob at the underside of the midmost breadstix) to fit the outer shape; when you get close to the rim, you can adjust the centre by also prsessing the Spacebar to move the ellipse about; when you have the ellipse (almost) right at the Anchor Points (top, bottom, left,right) you can switch to the Direct Selection Tool, deselect, and adjust Anchor Point  positions and Handles as/if needed;

2) Do the same as in 1) with the white hot stuff bowl; you only need to get the right part (outside the plate) right;

3) Zoom in on each of the three breadstix end parts that stick out and use the Pen Tool to trace the outer shape against the table, especially to the (far) left you have a certain freedom to decide where it is/you want it to be;

4) Select all your paths and Pathfinder>Unite, then ShiftClick the image and Ctrl/Cmd+7.

Well, in Photoshop there are dozens of ways to fine-tune selections.

You would just have to familiarise yourself with them.

You can, of course, also ask in the Photoshop forum to get some more instructions.

Preferably, that kind of task is done in raster image applications such as Photoshop.

In Illustrator you could draw an appropriate path with the Pen tool and use it as a clipping path.