Removing ,objects and filling an image background

[SportingLife]

Hi all,

After viewing a number of tutorials, I'm still having fits removing the vehicles from the end of this "tunnel". I'd like to retain the darkened image of the man and have tried to use different selection tools and also Content Aware - Fill to remove him first and then remove the white and red vehicles. My intent was to fill the background with the granite or concrete wall and then return the man to the scene from the saved layer. Clearly I'm lacking the knowledge and experience to pull this off. Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[melissapiccone]

You are on the right track. I downloaded your image - content aware isn't working well on this image - use the patch tool. Select the man, and put him on his own layer. make a new blank layer for the patch tool and make sure you select content aware and sample all layers at the top in the options bar. Select the bottom section, then drag it into the wall that you want to fill the area with. 

[SportingLife]

Thanks so mcuh for your timely and right on target instructions. A friend has requested a copy of the photo and I wanted to make one of the improved version as soon as possible. I've got tons to learn about this application...thanks for moving me further along on the journey.

[JJMack · Accepted solution]

I would use the pen tool to create a path around what I wanted to hide from view. When satiafied with the path I would convert it a selection that I invert and add as a Layer mask to the tunel image.  I would then create a patch layer under the masked layer to fill area the car and truck are.

Using a Lask you loose nothing.  You could work on the layer mask and give hin back his ride. 

[SportingLife]

Thanks so much for you instructions and the examples you provided. There are indeed other objects that I'll need to include in the finished product and your example provides a slick and inclusive solution. Though I need to work on my pen use and selection skills, I think I'll be able to accomplish this task thanks to the instructions I've been given in this thread.