Problems cutting out background

[enginestar]

I'm now a bit more clued up cutting out the background.
But... I'm still have trouble.

Pen tool: I select all around.
When I get to the last circle, it doesn't connect to my last circle.
Instead, I have to click very close to the last circle, then select path from selection (or something like that) and then invert.

Now, I can't delete.

I suspect I am missing one of the steps - where you add another layer or something?

Then I try the lasoo tool. I select all around. But now I don't get the ants!
Grrr.... what am I doing wrong? Am I missing a step of adding a mask layer or something again?
Or have I activated another setting option I am not aware of?

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks.

[Espermaschine]

To finish a path and connect with the first node, hold down CTRL.
A path is created in the paths-tab from where you can call up a selection with the little button at the bottom of the paths-tab.

This selection marks whats inside the marching ants, so if you want to remove the background, invert the selection before hitting delete (and make sure you have an alpha channel).

For non destructive removal of the BG with the help of a layermask:
- make the selection
- right-click on the layer in the layers-tab and choose the 'Add Layermask'' option
- choose initialise layermask from selection and also tick 'Invert Mask'
- deselect

Easy way to memorize layermasks:
"White reveals, and Black conceals"


The behaviour of the Lasso Tool has changed in Gimp 2.10, now you have to hit Enter to activate the marching ants.
This has the advantage that you can still tweak the selectionpoints before you finalise it.

[enginestar]

@Espermaschine thanks for the reply.

Pen tool - I must have missed that last instruction when I saw the youtube videos.
Lasso: now working.

but the mask instruction... i'm not seeing what you suggested... i can't see 'initialise layermask'

this is what i see:



what am i doing wrong?
thanks

(05-26-2018, 12:39 AM)Espermaschine Wrote: To finish a path and connect with the first node, hold down CTRL.
A path is created in the paths-tab from where you can call up a selection with the little button at the bottom of the paths-tab.

This selection marks whats inside the marching ants, so if you want to remove the background, invert the selection before hitting delete (and make sure you have an alpha channel).

For non destructive removal of the BG with the help of a layermask:
- make the selection
- right-click on the layer in the layers-tab and choose the 'Add Layermask'' option
- choose initialise layermask from selection and also tick 'Invert Mask'
- deselect

Easy way to memorize layermasks:
"White reveals, and Black conceals"


The behaviour of the Lasso Tool has changed in Gimp 2.10, now you have to hit Enter to activate the marching ants.
This has the advantage that you can still tweak the selectionpoints before you finalise it.

[rich2005]

This is a real quick run-down of using a layer mask, there are more detailed explanations if you search.

First experiment

Make 2 different layers.
Get add a layer mask as your screenshot: https://i.imgur.com/FtSfEWC.jpg click on add
That gets a new icon next to the active layer in the layers dialogue. Click in it to make it active (click in the other one to deactivate)
Now in the Canvas, paint in Black. That acts as a window to the layer underneath. Switch to White and paint out the black. See what happens. https://i.imgur.com/C3E7E7J.jpg
Hint: The x key switches FG/BG colours, black/white. Easy to paint out mistakes.

In practice:

Add the layer mask Make your selection: https://i.imgur.com/gPZNC6Y.jpg
Invert the selection, fill with black. https://i.imgur.com/KeDdNv2.jpg Turn off the selection
What is the advantage. Get into the detail with a small brush and clean up bits the selection missed. Black to erase, white to un-erase. https://i.imgur.com/PfwaLpu.jpg

[Espermaschine]

(05-28-2018, 05:45 PM)enginestar Wrote: but the mask instruction... i'm not seeing what you suggested... i can't see 'initialise layermask'

im sorry, but everything i told you is right in front of you in your screenshot

   

[sallyanne]

If you are doing the - "path around the foreground, then path to selection" there are two ways you can go ahead from here.
Same if you are using a mask to make your selection
1. Invert your selection so only the outer area is selected then press the delete button or edit > clear
2. Leave the selection as is - 'cut' the foreground out of the picture and 'paste as' a new image.