(Request) Cleanly removing/replacing parts of an image

[daigo]

http://s14.postimg.org/ajh7jz727/pause_overlay.png

I tried doing this on my own, but I am fairly inexperienced with photo editing (I use GIMP) and the edges of my edit turned out really sharp/jaggedy and just plain ugly.
What I want to do is, I would like to remove the entire purple/pink picture (the whole colored part including the character) from the interior of the dark outline, and also all the words ("resume," "retry," "back") so that it is just the outline shape with a blank/dark interior. But, I would also like the option of replacing the purple/pink image in the outline with something else whenever I want, but I don't know how I would go about doing that. Maybe creating a separate smaller image of the smaller outline so that I can make whatever image I want in the smaller outline, and then paste that image into the interior of the larger outline? What would be the best way to do this?

 

[IamSam]

I'm not familiar with GIMP, but this is how you could do it in Ps.

Use the Pen Tool to make the selection.........


Then apply a layer mask.

 

[daigo]

That's kind of what I did, but when I replace the empty space (as seen in your image) with a different image, the edges look really weird, especially at the upper-left tip point. Is there a way to make the edges around it more smooth?

 

[IamSam]

Post an example and let us take a look at it.

 

[daigo]

Ok, here is one I did just now. I don't think Gimp has a tool that can smoothly select the edges of the outline so I had to select the edge manually which is why it's a little messy, but if I spend a while on zooming in the picture and carefully selecting the edge I think I can get it right, but that will probably take upwards of an hour to do carefully. For demonstration purposes I didn't want to spend that much time to post an example, but as you can see the edges are too sharp and doesn't look like it belongs inside the outline, compared to the original picture where the outline integrates into the background of the larger outline seamlessly.

 

[IamSam]

To me it appears that you have also tried to cut out the second or replacement image.

I would use a clipping mask.

Create a new layer.
Make a selection of the layer mask.
On the new layer, fill the selection with black. I call this a template layer.

Place this new layer below the second or replacement layer.
I'm not sure how it's done in GIMP, but you then clip the replacement to the template layer.

 

[daigo]

Question: when you use the Pen Tool in Photoshop, does it automatically detect and select the curves for you? How did you use the tool to select the outline?

 

[IamSam]

Question: when you use the Pen Tool in Photoshop, does it automatically detect and select the curves for you? How did you use the tool to select the outline?

Yikes! No, you have make the selection yourself.

Here are some Pen Tool tutorials:

Video Tutorials on the Pen Tool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FvnxmwHVpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJj6iNr6K0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vUqFSH1lc#t=17



Written Tutorials on the Pen Tool:

http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/become-a-master-of-the-pen-tool-in-under-30-minutes/

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/custom-shapes/

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photoshops-pen-tool-the-comprehensive-guide--psd-718

http://helpx.adobe.com/en/photoshop/using/drawing-pen-tools.html


You will have to look for some Pen Tool tutorials for GIMP.

 

[daigo]

Thank you for your help. When I look at it now, I think it might actually be easier to use the Pen Tool (or rather Gimp's equivalent tool) to actually just recreate the entire thing from scratch.

 

[IamSam]

Thank you for your help. When I look at it now, I think it might actually be easier to use the Pen Tool (or rather Gimp's equivalent tool) to actually just recreate the entire thing from scratch.

That would be a good idea. It may bring about a whole new set of problems, such as placing the text within the design (not to mention on a curve).

I always advise anyone who asks, the one and only tool you should master first is the Pen Tool. Good luck.

 

[kerby]

Hey daigo, I used Gimp for a very long time. What I would do in this circumstance is create your own layer with the curves rather than trying to crop ones out of the photo. Obviously Ai would be the best program, but I'll try and explain how I would do it in Gimp.

The tool I would use for this task is the paths tool (B is the keyboard shortcut). You can start by placing anchors along the edges of the curves, and drag the handles to get the smooth curves. Below is the work I did dragging and dropping the path anchors.



Afterwards, you should use Edit > Stroke Path and stroke with a 2px brush. You can fill the interior parts with the bucket tool.

Select the path in the dialog...


Stroke path...


Bucket fill with the threshold set to 150...


Selecting the curves by hand to crop is tedious. If you're careful, you can draw your own precisely (and not as lumpy as mine). I hope this was helpful, from one Gimp user to another