Skip to main content
M
melissat51895761
Participant
August 22, 2017
Question

Removing Background from Layer

  • August 22, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 963 views

Hi, I am accessing a previous employee's files. She created a color layer over an image with decreased opacity to give it a shaded colored look. However, in the layers section, the background is the image and layer1 is the image plus the color layer. I want to be able to copy the color layer so I can put it over a different image but it won't let me select just the color, anytime I copy it, it copies the image with it. I don't know how to isolate the color layer and am confused why the layer includes the image to begin with. I don't know how to unmerge them as all I need from it is the exact color and opacity that she used.

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Norman Sanders
Norman Sanders
Legend
August 22, 2017

In looking at the image it is very apparent that this rendition is not a flat color overlay. Rather it is an orange Edit > Fill with the Blending Mode set to Color.  As a quick test, below is is a copy of the Layers panel image with the Orange R239 G125 B43 for starters. Then moved to Lab Color where the L channel adjusted the contrast and range. We would need a copy of the full color background image in order to test further.

    Norman Sanders
    Norman Sanders
    Legend
    August 22, 2017

    From your description, it is possible that your file looks like this. If I am correct, notice that, although the opacity of the blue is set at 40%,  its full 100% value is shown in the Layers image. To obtain it and have it appear as the Foreground Color, choose the Eyedropper tool, click and drag from your image to the blue in the Layers panel.

    M
    melissat51895761Author
    Participant
    August 22, 2017

    M
    melissat51895761Author
    Participant
    August 22, 2017

    I don't know how it changed but the bottom layer was originally the background and was locked. What I want to do is just switch out the image but keep the color overlay. Or copy the overlay over to a different image. But I can't.

    macpawel
    macpawel
    Participating Frequently
    August 22, 2017

    It's not easy to unmerge object and background. Probably you have to use any selection tool to select image and then move it to destination image.

    To do it, try tu use Quick Selection Tool (W) and try to select main image. You can adjust size of this tool using [ or ] brackets.

    If you need to decrease selection you can "draw" with Alt key pressed. Finally you can use Select & Mask (or RefineEdge in previous version of PS) to adjust selection - it  really works!

    Finally just drag your image to destination document or just copy and paste it in any destitanion place

    Pawel

    M
    melissat51895761Author
    Participant
    August 22, 2017

    What I need to select and move is not the image, it's just the semi-transparent color over the image. I can't select anything, it will just move the background image with the color mask over it together but won't let me select anything individually. I tried Select and Mask and it didn't do anything. I copied and pasted it into the document I need but still can't get rid of the background image so that it's just the color left.

    WILDCAT54
    WILDCAT54
    Inspiring
    August 22, 2017

    Post a screenshot of the document and layers panel please.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices