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FernL
Known Participant
October 20, 2023
Answered

Contributing PNG Files

  • October 20, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 958 views

Hi all,

 

Does someone have a trick for removing photo backgrounds and generating the perfect PNG file?  I am using online software "adobe background remover" and others but they always seem to leave a small white border around the item so then I have to go into gimp and manually remove the border which can take a very long time in some cases and they still don't look right.  I have had a few PNG files rejected for quality issues. 

 

I have seen PNG files that are pretty much perfect and not sure how people are doing that.  Does anyone have a tip?

 

thanks in advance

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Nancy OShea
  • Practice, practice, practice. 
  • Use your favorite Photoshop selection tools (Pen, Marquee, Quick Selection, Magic Wand, etc...) along with Masks.
  • Be patient and take your time to ensure you get a good selection.
  • Use different approaches depending on how soft or hard your subjects's edges are.
  • This beginners tutorial should help you get started.

 

 

7 replies

photorebelle
photorebelle
Inspiring
October 21, 2023

I'm old school and I work with the pen tool in photoshop. It's very long but I think it gives the best results. Maybe I should try another way...

    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    daniellei4510Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2023

    Agreed. It takes awhile, but it's usually a sure thing once completed, while trial and error with the other tools don't always result in success.

    Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
      photorebelle
      photorebelle
      Inspiring
      October 21, 2023

      Yes, it's a long time but with good music in your ears it changes everything...

      F
      FernLAuthor
      Known Participant
      October 21, 2023

      Thank you all for the great comments / suggestions.

      Abambo
      Community Expert
      AbamboCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 20, 2023

      There is a very easy trick, but it won't please you: it's hard manual work, even if you have now (in Photoshop and other programs) multiple nice tools that support you in that task. I've spent during my professional career hours and hours, removing backgrounds and as I did know the final use for this, I could work towards this use that did allow most of the cases for simple errors. For stock, however, you need to work very precise.

       

      If the asset allows, you may shrink the selection by 2 pixels or so, inverse the selection and simply delete the background.

       

      Generally speaking, however, it is very hard, time-consuming work.

      ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
        Nancy OShea
        Community Expert
        Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 20, 2023

        When I'm creating a transparent PNG, I create a new document with transparency (denoted by the checkerboard pattern).

         

         

        Create a new Layer on top.

        File > Export > Export As > PNG with transparency box checked.

         

         

         

        Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
        Nancy OShea
        Community Expert
        Nancy OSheaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        October 20, 2023
        • Practice, practice, practice. 
        • Use your favorite Photoshop selection tools (Pen, Marquee, Quick Selection, Magic Wand, etc...) along with Masks.
        • Be patient and take your time to ensure you get a good selection.
        • Use different approaches depending on how soft or hard your subjects's edges are.
        • This beginners tutorial should help you get started.

         

         

        Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
        Jill_C
        Community Expert
        Jill_CCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 20, 2023

        Adobe Photoshop Select Object, Masking and Refine Edge tools seem to be the most efficient, though depending on the complexity of the subject, still tedious. Good extraction from a background is a skill and an art that takes practice.

        Jill C., Forum Volunteer
          daniellei4510
          Community Expert
          daniellei4510Community Expert
          Community Expert
          October 20, 2023

          He mentioned using Gimp. Gimp is a good free alternative to Photoshop but I'm not sure how well it keeps up with Photoshop's tools and features or if they work as well.

          Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
          Nancy OShea
          Community Expert
          Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 20, 2023

          Gimp is a poor man's Photoshop.  Added functionality can sometimes be achieved with extensions (plugins). 

          https://shotkit.com/gimp-plugins/

           

          Photoshop CC has all the bells & whistles you'd expect from pro-level software.  It also has a steep learning curve.

           

          Photoshop Elements is a lite version (under $100) with a shorter learning curve.

          https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

           

          Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
            daniellei4510
            Community Expert
            daniellei4510Community Expert
            Community Expert
            October 20, 2023

            There is nothing that I know of that can remove a background well enough that no additional editing is required. However, I do believe there are some youtube videos that show the easiest way to go about doing so that may be of help. 

            Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
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