Knock
it Out!
Removing Backgrounds with Paint Shop Pro
6
Back to Removing
the Background
Paint Shop Pro 6 does not have many specialty tools for isolating complex
objects. There's the eraser, standard selections tools, the smart edge option
on the lasso tool, and that's about it. However, there are a few unique approaches
to removing backgrounds that might not be obvious to the average user. I'll
walk you through two of these techniques using channels and masks, and then
I'll show you how to make and refine complex selections with the Smart Edge
option for the lasso tool. Click on a thumbnail below for step-by-step instructions
on removing the background with Paint Shop Pro.
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 Channels
and Masks
This technique involves splitting the image into RGB channels, then editing
and combining those channels to create a mask which preserves the soft,
billowing edges of the jets' vapor trails. While this technique takes
a bit longer than the tool methods used in Photoshop
and Photo-Paint, I think
the final result is actually a bit better.
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Channel Mask
A bit simpler than the technique above, this technique also involves splitting
the image into channels and editing a channel to create a grayscale mask.
It also demonstrates the layer matting commands.
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 Smart
Edge Lasso Tool
The Smart Edge option for the lasso tool detects the edges of an object
as you select it, allowing you to be a bit more precise in making complex
selections. It's not perfect, though, so you'll also learn how to convert
your selection to a mask, and refine the selection in mask edit mode using
the painting tools.
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 Vector
Drawing Tool
I was planning to demonstrate selecting the butterfly image using the
vector drawing tools in Paint Shop Pro 6 since that would be the equivalent
of Photoshop's Pen tool and Photo-Paint's path tool. However, after working
in node editing mode for a while, I came to the conclusion that it would
be easier and faster to use the standard eraser tool for an image like
this. Unless you're very practiced in drawing bezier curves, it's much
too time consuming to plot the points and edit a path in this version
of Paint Shop Pro. Let's hope that node editing functionality will be
improved in the next version. I didn't provide a tutorial for this image
because the best method would probably be the eraser tool, and that tool
is fairly straightforward.
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Remember, if you have a favorite tool or technique that works for you, you're
always welcome to share
it in the forum.
Back to Removing
the Background
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