Changing the background

From what i've searched and read about, I've concluded that a lot of people use the Lasso tool to select the image, and then drop in/or paint in a new background. I've tried it numerous times but just don't understand how to get every strand of hair, and every eyelash. I've ran into numerous problems with my attempts, and am hoping that their is an easier way to place a new background.

Feel free to attempt on this image-tried placing her on a white, or black background, but wasn't too successful. Please let me know what you did.

Content warning: script | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

There is really no easier way...but it just takes a combination of patience and practice...Of course it is easier to get it right the first time...but here is one that I went ahead and did...It is easiest if you just want it on a plain white background...if you want a colour or something else it is a little more tricky but can still be done...

I used a combination of the Magnetic and the Poly Lasso...and used the shift button to add further selections and the alt button to take away certain selections...then I expanded the selction by 1 pixel and then feathered it by 2 pixels...

Cheers,

The first is your image the second is what I did in about 5 minutes...

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Symes: did you just select the image with the lasso tool, and then added a new layer and painted it white??? or did you do it another way???

There are many ways you can do this...on this one I actually created a New white 6X4 and then selected all the parts of the image I wanted to keep and drug it over to the new screen...

Alternatively you could create a new layer
change the original layer to whatever colour or background you want
select all the areas of the image you want to eliminate
feather the image (this is the most important part)
then press delete and you will have what you want...

Cheers,

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edel33 wrote:
From what i've searched and read about, I've concluded that a lot of people use the Lasso tool to select the image, and then drop in/or paint in a new background. I've tried it numerous times but just don't understand how to get every strand of hair, and every eyelash. I've ran into numerous problems with my attempts, and am hoping that their is an easier way to place a new background.

Feel free to attempt on this image-tried placing her on a white, or black background, but wasn't too successful. Please let me know what you did.

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

i'm a noob at posting pictures so i'm not really sure why the picture is not showing, so here's the link
photobucket.com/albums​/e190/edel33/?action=v​iew¤t=IMG_0808.j​pg

I normaly use cs2 for everything... but elemets 4 has a tool.. that lets you place dots around the image you want to extract from your picture... Coolest thing I've ever seen... Then lets you preview... zoom in and bursh any missed spots off or on... etc... and bam... all done..

Removing backgrounds can be quite tricks. I use the magnetic lassoo (follows contrast lines) and then tweak it with the standard lasso. There are techniques for doing it with channels and such, but they're pretty advanced.

Any "photoshop for photographers" type book will help you do this. Scott Kelby writes good books.

i want to thank everyone for their input

Scott Kelby's book 'The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital Photographers' pages 260-265 is exactly what you need....you wont miss a strand of hair!