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Martha27
Participant
January 21, 2025
Answered

Beginner looking for guidance to remove complicated background from complicated tree

  • January 21, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 700 views

Hi. I am looking for guidance on how to remove the complicated background from the cypress tree. I have looked at other posts, but I'm such a beginner that I need more basic instructions from the very beginning. Thank you! 

 

2 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 21, 2025

Yes, c.p. is on the right track. But if you're talking about the ground, the vegetation behind, the distant landscape - and not the sky - then phew, you got a lot of work ahead. This blends in totally. There is really nothing to separate them, except your eyes and brain to tell which is tree and which is not. There's not even out-of-focus background to help you, it's all in sharp focus (which is what you get with phones with tiny lenses).

 

Not saying it's not doable, but strap in for some hours of tedious manual work with small brushes.

    M
    Martha27Author
    Participant
    January 21, 2025

    Thanks for the reality check! This is super helpful to know, and probably saved me a lot of time trying to meet unrealistic expectations, especially as a beginner with limited free time. I will still play with it a bit as practice, I guess. This wasn't a commercial project, just trying to provide the subject to my sister since it's her favorite tree and she wanted to paint it.

    M
    Martha27Author
    Participant
    January 21, 2025

    AND this teaches me to give more thought to how to frame trees I might want to isolate in the future (this was taken with my wide angle lens on a hike -- not my phone). Thanks again! 

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 21, 2025

    The Object Selection Tool got me this 

    which is not great but a start … 

    Then you can use a duplicate of the original Blue Channel and use Curves on that to improve the sky-parts. 

    Then I guess a lot of painting on the Layer Mask may be necessary. 

     

    But remember to work with a Layer Mask and not to use the Eraser Tool! 

     

    What background do you intend to use the image on? 

      M
      Martha27Author
      Participant
      January 21, 2025

      Thanks so much for the quick response! Since I am such a beginner, I will need to figure out how to use each of these individual tools that you mention. Having the tree on a white background is fine for now. Do you have resource suggestions for a total newbie to PS? So grateful for you time and attention!

       

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