I have an image in Photoshop CS2 with a white background, I can easily remove this but then you can see I can see white around the edges of some of my other elements of the image. Thus, I would like to remove all the white from the image.
Is there any way to do this? I'm very new to using Photoshop and still learning the ropes, so to speak.
Adjust the sensitivity of the magic wand tool to select as close to the main image as possible. I hope you are using the magic wand to delete the white. It automatically selects groups of similar color.
I didn't know what to use, eepman.
Once I've selected the white with the magic wand tool, how do I remove it so that all the white is then a transparent area?
Also, would it be better if the image was saved as a .gif or a .png? I know both support transparency.
Dont use the magic wand tool, it has an ugly effect. If you realy need want to make it look good (IE banners, signatures, walpapers) take the pen tool, go around the image you need and transform the pen coordinates into a selection. Delete the stuff you dont want or make an alpha channel from your selection 
I still can't do it.
Remember I'm a total novice here, I had to search the help to find out what an alpha channel was and even then I couldn't make the white transparent with one.
Would someone please explain to me in more detail the steps I need to go through to make all the white transparent or somehow remove it.
Thanks. ok, theres something called a video tutorial,
Link: http://www.planetrenders.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3564
that should clear up any problems you have
and if u cant download it (only 22 megs) go to either of these sights and find a pen tool tut:
www.planetrenders.net (go to forum and find render tutorials)
www.deviantart.com (search for pen tool tut/rendering tut, your choice)
over all the video tut is the best to get u into it quickley and easily
ALSO
most improtantly make sure the layer of whiter IS NOT LOCKED. if it is then duplicatethe layer and delete the one THAT IS LOCKED. that should work.
oh and png's are better files but the vid tut tells u all this. Ok thanks a lot _Jak_ I'm downloading it now; I'll have a look tomorrow as I have to go in less than 10 minutes.
As a general tip.....
First, copy your layer so that you have two identical layers. Turn off the visibility on the bottom layer (click the eye icon). Then make your selection on the top layer. After you make the selection you should see "marching ants" around your selection. Press delete. It should disappear. If the opposite thing disappeared from what you wanted, go to > Edit > Step backward. Your selection should reappear. Now go to > select > inverse. Now hit the delete key. That's how it works as a real general rule.
www.good-tutorials.com
www.pixel2life.com
those are really good to get you started. And those render programs have some defects, so I recommend using the pen tool (just look up on those sites). If you don't want that professional, then stick with the auto apps. Thanks for the help guys, that tutorial video was very helpful, _Jak_. My friend had a look at the image and realised that the layer was locked for editing, which explains why I couldn't delete my selection - I've got rid of the white now.
However, some of the elements of my picture are a bit jagged and there are slight white outlines to some of the elements too.
Never considered any other method. I have just always used the background eraser tool. I adjust the sensitivity if it is too much or not enough. Usually takes some tweaking but has given me excellent results.
| Quote: |
| Never considered any other method. I have just always used the background eraser tool. I adjust the sensitivity if it is too much or not enough. Usually takes some tweaking but has given me excellent results. |
I do the same..a method i sue all the time for this is using the blending options on the layers however it dont always work for each priject - depends what ur trying to achive.
Thanks all posting in this thread, it has helped me, too 
I use the earaser tool to cut out my renders. Zoom in and change brush size for hard to get spots.
erm, polygonal lasso done very carefully isn't all taht difficult. Or the pen tool rocks too, but its a bit more difficult to master. Personally, I enver use magic wand or background eraser as I find tehy don't work for the photos I like to use very well at all. If it's complex images, I would probably go with Channel and use them as mask. In this case, we can still preserve the original image without modify or change it.
I'm quite a big fan of masking when it has something to do with hiding or deleting stuff as we can modify the mask without destroying the original image itself. We can even mask the object with semi transparent brushes
