Expert: Richard Rost - 9/30/2008

Question
Hi
I am a keen beginner. I understand how to pick out an object from an image using the eraser tool or magnetic lasso. But my image ( a guitar and a violin) is on a black background and even when i reduce the tolerance it is impossible as the black bits on the instruments are erased too. When i use the lasso, which i think is a better tool for this job, there isn't enough difference between the black of the instruments and the black of the background, of course i magnify it first. My image must be precise and perfect. It is for a website. Surely there is another way round this. Could you Help me please?

Thank you

Namaste


Answer
You have used the exact tools that I would have used for the job.  Sometimes Photoshop comes more down to art than science.  Is there any way you can retake the picture?  If you have a black guitar try photographing it on a white background.  If not, sometimes it just takes time to get in there and edit all the pixels.  Some of the best Photoshopwork I have seen involves the artist painstakingly editing all of the pixels.

Let me know if you have any other questions or comments.

Also, be sure to visit my FREE Tips & Tricks Page at http://www.599cd.com/tips?key=AllExperts


Cordially,

Richard Rost
599CD Computer Training
http://www.599cd.com

P.S. Try one of my FREE tutorials at http://www.599cd.com/Photoshop?key=AllExperts

P.P.S. I volunteer my time at AllExperts to help people, and I get a LOT of questions, so I can't take an hour to answer each question. If you need more DETAILED HELP, come to my TechHelp web site at http://www.599cd.com/TechHelp/AllExperts and I'll take as much time as you need to answer your question.