Hello!
I have a PS problem that i just can't find a solution for.. so, i hope some of you might know the answer.
I have a pencil drawing that i scan in (as greyscale image). I import it in Photoshop, where i want to make the white background (paper) transparent in such a way, that there wouldn't be any grey pixels, but instead, they would be transparent too (that means: lighter parts of line would be more transparent than dark ones).
To make it more clear where my problem is, i made 2 example pictures:
(http://www.bugbrain.com/igor/photoshop/psquestion1.jpg)
And here's what i would like to get:
(http://www.bugbrain.com/igor/photoshop/psquestion2.jpg)
A few years back someone already told me the solution to this problem (and very elegant too- with just a few clicks), but i forgot to write it down :-\ All I know is, that it contained masks.
Anyway, thank you in advance for ANY pointers!
Don't know about PS, but in GIMP, there is
Layer -> Transparancies -> colour to alpha
I think PS should have a similar option.
Go to layer blending options and select multiply. You can control the amount and effectivness from there also. If it doesn't work perfectly, you might want to use curves or just add a bit more contrast (which shouldn't lose much information on such a simple piece).
Leave the bg white and magic wand tool is just pure evil, ok?
Thank you both for help!
Gilbot- i just downloaded GIMP (didn't use it before)- and your solution is exactly what i needed! Thanks a lot!
Does anyone know if something like that is also possible in PS? If not, i'll just do the trick in GIMP and save the picture in PNG with alpha.
Ctrl+A and Ctrl+X to cut the image.
Create a new alpha layer in the channels
Ctrl+V the image in there.
Ctrl + I to invert it (white on black)
Ctrl + left mouse button on the Alpha layer to select by transparency
Click back to your RGB layer and then fill the selection with black on a new layer
TADA!
You can play with levels on the alpha channel to strengthen / weaken your line as necessary.
Ah yes! That's it, many thanks! :)
Hey, I has the same question for years in Pain Shop Pro... Can anyone help me?
Thanks in advance for those who will try to answer, and to Igor, for asking something I allways wanted to ask.
Along the lines of Binky's method, but more optimized:
Alt.1
1. Go to channels, and ctrl-click any of the rbg channels (or the gray channel)
2. Invert the selection with ctrl-shift-i
3. Create a new layer and fill the selection with black
Alt.2
1) Create a black layer beneath the stroke layer
2) Go to channels, and ctrl-click any of the rbg channels (or the gray channel)
3) Go back to the black layer, and click on the 'layermask' button (the one with a circle inside a square)
4) Invert the layermask with ctrl-i
(http://marcus.krupa.se/AGS/stroketoalpha.jpg)
Voila!
Hey Loominous, i just tried both of them out- fantastic! Really elegant solution, it will save me some time. Thanks! :)