Expert: Huma Riaz - 3/13/2006

Question
Hi Huma,

I am using a Mac with Photoshop CS. I would say I'm at the Intermediate level of this program.

Here is my question:

I have hand written my signature with a black pen on white paper. I then scanned the paper and produced a hi-rez TIFF file of this signature. The file is a BITMAP. Of course If needed I can create another LAYER and save the signature as an RGB LAYER.

I would like to eliminate the white (paper) background and just have my signature (in black) floating on a transparent layer. Preferably without using the Lasso or Eraser tools as these would probably take too much time. Something I read awhile back talked about a "knockout" background? I tried the Magic Wand in the "subtractive" setting but due to the BITMAP file configuration "no pixels were selected".

Any suggestions on this would be very appreciated.

Thanks so much for your help.
Dennis

Answer
It's Easy,

1. Select some area of white background pixels with marquee or any other tool

2. Go to Select > Similar

3. When you get the selection, press delete from keyboard. Before doing that don't forget to check as your layer it should not be a Background layer. (Double click to change)



Feel free to ask anything further

Huma Riaz
Location: Karachi-Pakistan