Image Processing Reference
In-Depth Information
• Switch back to selection mode.
• Duplicate the Background layer and name it something like hair-extracted .
• Add an alpha channel to the duplicated layer (right-click in the Layers
dialog and choose Add Alpha Channel ).
• Click the eye icon in the Layers dialog to make the Background layer
invisible.
• Select a soft edge or feathering of approximately 7 pixels, and reduce the
selection slightly. ( Select > Feather and set to 7 pixels; Select > Shrink and
set to 2 pixels. Remember that these values are contingent on the image
and your intent.)
• Choose Select >Invert to invert the selection to select the surface around
the head.
• Make the hair-extracted layer the active layer.
• Use the selection to delete the background from the hair-extracted layer
( Edit > Clear ).
• Remove the selection ( Select > None ).
So far, so good—you think? A
background with a different color
would be useful in order to check
the result of your selection. The
background will make the subject of
your photograph stand out better.
• In the Layers dialog, create a new
layer named background-colored .
• Use a color of your choice to ill the
new layer.
• Use the tonality correction ( Colors
> Levels and adjust the mid-tones
slider) to make the hair-extracted
layer a little lighter. The hair should
appear shinier, and more strands
will become visible.
• Use a large, soft eraser with
reduced opacity to touch up
transitions on the hair-extracted
layer, if necessary.
• Save your image.
Figure 4.18
The finished image with layers
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