Expert: Neal Ziring - 10/23/2002

Question
I need to make a brochure for my company and have Corel Draw and Photo Paint. I must tell you that I am not an artist and don't know much about the programs. I want to put a couple of photos on the brochure but get rid of the backgrounds on the photos so they blend in with the background color that I have chosen. (I want just the person in the photo and not anything else) I have Photo Paint Version 7.467. All of the help files don't seem to make much sense to me. Is it possible to explain how to do this to a novice?

Answer
Janice,

>
> I want to put a couple of photos on the brochure but
> get rid of the backgrounds on the photos so they blend
> in with the background color that I have chosen.
>

Well, this is an important skill, but it isn't always easy
to do.  The basic procedure is this:

   1. In PhotoPaint, create a selection or "mask" that
      includes all of the picture EXCEPT the person
      you want to keep.
   2. In PhotoPaint, set the paper color to the background
      color you have chosen.  Be very careful to do this
      precisely -- a 'close match' will look bad.
   3. In PhotoPaint, cut the selection (Edit->Cut, or ^X).
   4. In PhotoPaint, crop the picture if necessary.
   5. Save the picture under a new name (File->Save As..)
      Be sure to use a good file format like TIFF or CPT,
      do NOT use JPEG or GIF.
   6. Start up CorelDraw, and load your brocure design.
   7. In CorelDraw, use the Import command to load in
      your new version of the picture.
   8. Size and position the picture as needed.

The key step here is step 1.  Creating masks is extremely
important for all PhotoPaint tasks.  There are a few
very important things to remember about creating masks:

       - you don't have to create the mask all at once;
         you can create a mask a little at a time by
         using mask Add mode.
       - often, it is easier to create a mask over the
         stuff you don't want than the stuff you do want.
         It is always easy to invert or complement the
         mask after you have made it.
       - take advantage of all the masking tools, but
         practice using them before depending on them for
         an important project.

Finally, in addition to normal help files, CorelDraw and
PhotoPaint include interactive tutorials called Corel
Tutors.  These tutorials may help you understand some of
the basic tasks in Draw and Paint more effectively than the
usual help files.

Good luck...

...nz