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Outline with transparent background from photo


suetosser

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Hi
been trying to work out how i can do this with no luck....I have a photo of a dogs head - i want to end up with an outline of this on a transparent background - i have been selecting the head using quick selection tool and then going to blending mode and stroke so i get the outer line ok but the fill is a colour - but does anyone know how i can end up with a transparent fill please
thanks for any help
Sue
 

gedstar

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Hi and Welcome to PSG

Not sure if this is what you're after
Make a selection of the dog and copy that to a new layer, then turn off the original layer.
image1.jpg

Then go to Select, Modify, Contract and contract the selection by about 5px
image2.jpg
image3.jpg

Hit delete on the keyboard to remove what's inside the selection
image4.jpg

Then CTRL click on the layers thumbnail to make the selection active and then hit CTRL backspace to fill the selection with black
image5.jpg

Result
image6.jpg
 
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suetosser

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Awesome thanks so much gedstar - works a treat - i just need to do the initial selection with a thicker edge as some edges were very faint....i assume thats in the initial selection with the quick selection tool
thanks so much for your time
Sue
 

suetosser

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gedstar did u make the selection of your photo using quick selection tool? just wondering as your outline is good and solid - my outline - which was of a more hairy dog - is very light and dark in places....
 

suetosser

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are these MAC commands?Then CTRL click on the layers thumbnail to make the selection active and then hit CTRL backspace to fill the selection with black
as i dont think the latter worked on my image (MAC)....maybe thats why its a wishy washy edge!
 

gedstar

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Sorry they're Windows commands

I think it should be
Command + Delete to fill with background color
Option + Delete to fill with foreground color
Command + Click on the layers thumbnail

Yes I used the quick selection tool and refined edge, but that will depend on the image in question, can you post the image of the dog you have?
 
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gedstar

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That image you're working on is a very low resolution image!

Untitled.jpg

I was still able to get a decent outline though
Untitled1.jpg
 
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gedstar

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For a higher res image you need to increase the contract px size here I use 50px

Untitled2.jpg
 

suetosser

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yep looks good - i tried and still get wishy washy image like this...appreciate your help thank you
Untitled-1.jpg
 

gedstar

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This is what your selection should look like after copying it to a new layer, note this is in quick mask mode just to highlight it

Untitled.jpg

After contracting you should have this

Untitled1.jpg

After deleting

Untitled2.jpg

And Fill with black

Untitled3.jpg
 
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suetosser

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thanks gedstar i will try this tomorrow - looks like contracting at 5 px for my image wasnt enough so will increase this - let you know - thanks again so much for your help
 

suetosser

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Thanks Gedstar - increasing the contract worked ok - now i have a nice outline so just have to work out how to add a little something to show the eye nose and ear so it looks more like a dog....is the easiest way to deselect these areas in the initial selection?
 

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