Galah 2

[Alan]

The b/g was a bit busy, (see previous Galah post), so I tried removing it as suggested in a recent thread on Bird Portraits.

[Isac]

Ah, very noice! How'd you do the removal? Newbies up to experts alike, I'm sure would love to know you method.

[Alan]

Thanks ISAC. As the B/G was blurred and a fairly consistent colour, I used the Quick Selection Tool in PS to select it. (also could have selected the Galah and inverted the selection, but the green seemed easier to work with in this case.)

You can add or subtract bits as you go to fine tune it - and/or go into Quick Mask and paint (pencil) or erase (eraser), bits as well. Or you can use the Magnetic Lasso Tool. Whatever suits your photo or preference.

Took maybe 30 secs. I didn't 'Feather' or 'Expand'/'Contract' the selection

Hit delete/backspace and select 'Black', (or whatever suits you) as 'Content'. You could also have a New Layer under the one you are working on and put a different background behind the bird, but that's another story.

Done.

Having said that - this is a very quick but dirty method - there are better and more realistic ways of doing it. (I'm just getting slack in my old age)

eg Background Eraser Tool

http://www.sitepoint.com/how-to-quic...-in-photoshop/

and the Refine Edge Tool

https://blog.udemy.com/photo-manipulation-tutorials/

Google is your friend

Have fun

[Isac]

I'm sure you'll get lots of lookers here Alan - many thanks for the tut. See, it really is the place to learn.

[seaslug]

What a pretty girl!

[Phoenix]

Thanks for sharing your masterclass Alan. Invert selection..didn't know you could.

[loose cannon]

Thanks for the tips Alan. Like the end result.

[Mark L]

So now it looks like a taxidermist has visited your place.
Would it look better if you just blurred the BG more?/

[Alan]

Quite possibly Mark and maybe darkened it a lot as well to leave just a bit of detail