How to get a transparent background for extracting an overlay with semi transparent pixels

[Alligators from Space]

Hello 🙂

I want to use an overlay for later photo editing, but I can only take a screenshot of it with a customizable background. So I had the idea to just use a black background and subtract a black plane from it, but if I do this the background stays black. Using the color range tool sadly doesn't work either because it doesn't recognize semi-transparent pixels.

Is there a way to get just the overlay?

Theoretically, I just have to tell photoshop, that black subtracted from black equals transparent, not black.

I hope you can help me, stay safe and have a great day ^^

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

You could make a layer mask from the red channel to mask out the black. I'm recommending the red channel because the graphic in the screenshot is mostly red. Here are the steps you could take:

1. Select the image layer in the Layers panel (Window > Layers)
2. Add a new layer mask to the layer (Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All or click on the 3rd icon from the left at the bottom of the Layers panel
3. Click on the Layer Mask thumbnail to select it
4. Go to the Channels panel (Window > Channels)
5. Select the Red channel
6. Select all (Select > All or Command (macOS) / Ctrl (Windows) + A)
7. Copy (Edit > Copy or Command (macOS) / Ctrl (Windows) + C)
8. Select the Layer Mask thumbnail at the bottom of the channels and Paste (Command (macOS) / Ctrl (Windows) + V)
9. Click the Layer Mask eyeball to turn off its visibility
10. Remove the extraneous content in the lower left
11. Edit the layer mask to adjust how much is shown using Brightness/Contrast, Levels, or Curves (by going to Image > Adjustments)

[Alligators from Space]

OK, it kinda worked out, thank you ^^

[lambiloon]

Hi check the following video hope it help you...regards

[Earth Oliver]

Did you try using the Blend-if sliders?