Remove background from Pictures

billhsln · 05. May 2011, 05:05 PM

I need to remove the backgrounds from around cars. Is there a simple freeware program that I can use to remove the background from around the cars. I have been doing this by hand by enlarging the picture by 500% and then very carefully removing the background by hand. Lots of slow work, it can be done, but am hoping for a quicker way.

Thanks,
BillHsln

Ritho · 05. May 2011, 07:25 PM

I am the resident graphics guy around here I guess. This is something I have done a lot of. There are definitely some awesome products out there that make background removal a breeze, but very few free ones unfortunately. In fact I only know of one. Thankfully it is pretty good at what it does. Have a look at the freeware version of Instantmask found at http://clipping-path-studio.com

Another possibility is http://www.diphso.no/FotoMix.html I have never used this, but I bookmarked it as another tool that makes it easier to remove backgrounds. How that is accomplished I am unsure.

Sope · 09. Jun 2011, 03:50 PM

I've just had a play with both InstantMask and Fotomix (thanks Ritho) to remove/change the background of a photo for use as a desktop wallpaper.

The free version of InstantMask is very limited/basic. I couldn't find any obvious way to change the marker size which seems far to big as standard, and the final results were poor producing a very jagged outline to the extent that large and obvious pieces of the subject were missing

On the plus side it was fast though.

Fotomix however was much more successful and pleasant to use. It has enough features to get the job done but is not overly complicated to use. IMO it is certainly beginner friendly.

Basic tutorials are provided on the website and the program displays useful tooltips when you hover your mouse over the various buttons.
You have to manually remove the background with Fotomix but various ways of doing this are provided such as colour erase, paint erase and fill erase. Using a combination of all 3 gets the job done fairly quickly and easily.
Overall a very nice, simple little program for the task

.

Anupam · 09. Jun 2011, 03:59 PM

Thanks for mentioning this Sope. I have FotoMix but never got around to use it. Its good to know it works well

... might come in handy sometime.

Sope · 09. Jun 2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

Its good to know it works well

... might come in handy sometime.

Yup, Fotomix is obviously not as versatile as the more sophisticated image editing programs available but for quick and simple projects it does the job adequately and is much easier to learn quickly.

azmilsyahmi · 10. Jun 2011, 04:04 AM

When I need to crop a few things, I normally use this freeware its called GIMP. Its similar to Photoshop.

05. May 2011, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
billhsln Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	Remove background from Pictures I need to remove the backgrounds from around cars. Is there a simple freeware program that I can use to remove the background from around the cars. I have been doing this by hand by enlarging the picture by 500% and then very carefully removing the background by hand. Lots of slow work, it can be done, but am hoping for a quicker way. Thanks, BillHsln

05. May 2011, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ritho Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 1,391	I am the resident graphics guy around here I guess. This is something I have done a lot of. There are definitely some awesome products out there that make background removal a breeze, but very few free ones unfortunately. In fact I only know of one. Thankfully it is pretty good at what it does. Have a look at the freeware version of Instantmask found at http://clipping-path-studio.com Another possibility is http://www.diphso.no/FotoMix.html I have never used this, but I bookmarked it as another tool that makes it easier to remove backgrounds. How that is accomplished I am unsure. __________________ The smallest good deed is better than the greatest intention.

09. Jun 2011, 03:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	Thanks for mentioning this Sope. I have FotoMix but never got around to use it. Its good to know it works well ... might come in handy sometime. __________________ Anupam

10. Jun 2011, 04:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
azmilsyahmi Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 7	Gimp When I need to crop a few things, I normally use this freeware its called GIMP. Its similar to Photoshop.

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09. Jun 2011, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 809	I've just had a play with both InstantMask and Fotomix (thanks Ritho) to remove/change the background of a photo for use as a desktop wallpaper. The free version of InstantMask is very limited/basic. I couldn't find any obvious way to change the marker size which seems far to big as standard, and the final results were poor producing a very jagged outline to the extent that large and obvious pieces of the subject were missing On the plus side it was fast though. Fotomix however was much more successful and pleasant to use. It has enough features to get the job done but is not overly complicated to use. IMO it is certainly beginner friendly. Basic tutorials are provided on the website and the program displays useful tooltips when you hover your mouse over the various buttons. You have to manually remove the background with Fotomix but various ways of doing this are provided such as colour erase, paint erase and fill erase. Using a combination of all 3 gets the job done fairly quickly and easily. Overall a very nice, simple little program for the task .