From: devvv (26 May 2008 05:03 PM) – Send a private message

yes, i know. this is another efficient way to do this - and a more common way. you should however know all ways to do such things to combine them. not all photos are the same

From: Alex Railean (26 May 2008 04:55 PM)

I found it, there you go: http://www.gimpguru.org/Tutorials/SimulatedDOF/

This is how you obtain the mask.

And this is how you use it to remove the background: http://www.gimpguru.org/Tutorials/ReplaceBackground/

From: Alex Railean (26 May 2008 04:49 PM)

Interesting, but it is not the most efficient way; there is a similar tutorial that explains how to do this by splitting the image to its individual channels and then ehnancing the contrast on the layer where the shapes are distinct (usually one channel has better contrast). By the time you do that, nothing but the object itself is seen - so you get your mask "for free", with no manual actions.

Unfortunately I can't find that turorial anymore.

From: Greg (24 May 2008 02:38 AM)

This is a very helpful method for certain types of backgrounds. Some people are complaining, but as a professional designer, I can tell everyone that you HAVE to know several different ways to do this. Hair is one of the more complex things to extract from a background. Great tut, another weapon for the arsenal.

From: mulder (28 Feb 2008 05:55 PM)

nice, don't know thats so simply to cut out the background from an complex image

From: Rich (18 Dec 2007 05:41 AM)

This is my second time tring this. and the first time it looked really bad, but I must say if you follow step by step it does really work very well. Thanks

From: ei! (03 Dec 2007 07:25 AM)

the tutorial is awesome, but not applicable to all photos... specially those with complicated backgrounds... but its helpful anyway!!>.<

From: meh (15 Nov 2007 03:58 PM)

Only useful where the background is neutral enough to select with the magic wand.

From: Litchi (10 Nov 2007 02:46 PM)

I think this tutorial is great ! I used it to extract a girl with a lot of hair falling before the background and the result is very satifying. It might work only on simple backgrounds, but it is nevertheless a useful manipulation. Thanks !

From: devvv (25 Oct 2007 10:38 AM) – Send a private message

of course this works best with backgrounds like mine. but nevertheless, this is a common technique in image manipulation, you should know it, its really helpful in some specific situations. of course you may combine some techniques together to get best results.

however, this is not the typical tuitorial for most of you guys. you're better with manual doing with the bezier/paths-tool.

From: M.rSnow (18 Oct 2007 06:51 PM)

Extremely awfull results whit strong backgrounds. extremely meany better ways of doing it. The tool u get when u press [I] is better.(I dont know the name)

From: SasQ (15 Oct 2007 01:49 PM)

I have some questions about this technique:
1. Which one is better: more blur or less?
2. What if there are light background fragments left on hair? [on thin hair lines, especially on their ends].
3. What to do if the background contains hard edges? This technique amplifies them too.

From: Gimp Fan (28 Sep 2007 04:04 AM)

Awsome! It worked great following your instructions step by step! Thanks!

From: Anonymous (25 Sep 2007 03:46 PM)

Awful, simply awful results. Only good for an image with an incredibly neutral background.

From: anon (23 Sep 2007 11:30 AM)

rubbish. left me with a total mess. do you honestly thing painting over something will give you good results?

From: Kushal Abrol (19 Sep 2007 10:00 AM)

One of the most useful tutorials ever seen

From: tyewonk (15 Sep 2007 09:45 PM) – Send a private message

I couldn't finish because Add Alpha Channel was grayed out. My image is set to RGB.