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I couldn't resist photographing this little cherub as I was passing a cemetery today. Appreciate your comments.

EXIF details: 70-300G, 1/2000, f5.6, 145mm, Manual mode

The first is the original (slightly cropped):


The second is a B&W/Sepia version with some of the distracting background taken out:

Ok now work on chopping out the background and making it black

Okay.... give me a few minutes Darryl....

One black background for Mr Kipper, coming right up.

How's this?

Did you use the magnetic lasso tool to get the black background?

I love the look of the picture with the black background.

Thanks Neeper - I'm pleased you like it, though I probably wouldn't have thought of it if Kipper hadn't suggested it. I'm certainly much happier with the result myself.

I used the Extract filter to select the angel from the sepia version, then created a new document the same dimensions as the original and filled it with black. From there I used the Move tool to transfer the extracted layer into the new document. I find I can be a little more delicate around the edges with the Extract tool.

I also played with levels a bit to make the angel blend into the background a little more.

Brilliant Manta

The finished pic is absolutely beautiful. Well done.

yes, the final version is a 100% keeper!

Wow.. I never knew the Extract filter existed.. I just played with it.. pretty cool.

I also like the angel on black.. makes it stand out more.

The last one is the bees knees - worth printing and framing

MAnta the finished product is awesome , nice and sharp with 7-300G.

MATT

Creepers ! Thats brilliant Manta

How are you going to share POTW with Kipper

Will be interesting.

Mic.

Geez! You go away for dinner, start watching a crappy DVD, pause it 'cos the missus needs a toilet break, check the forum and voila! a STACK of awesome responses!

Thanks everyone for the great wrap - I think I may just get this one printed!

The angel is beautiful - I actually like the delicate colours painted on her originally.

But the black and white with the black background is very striking. I would never have thought you could extraxt and place in on a black background so convincingly - it doesn't look 'cut-out' at all. Do you feather/modify the selection or do you just let the extract do its thing?

leigh999 wrote:The angel is beautiful - I actually like the delicate colours painted on her originally.

I must admit, this aspect was what drew me to the sculpture in the first place Leigh. It stands about 40 cm tall and is just such a pretty little piece - very angelic!

leigh999 wrote:Do you feather/modify the selection or do you just let the extract do its thing?

I use the 'clean-up' tools that are part of the extraction - once you get the hang of them they are pretty impressive. This went a long way towards getting an acceptable edge that didn't look fake. On the final image, I simply went around the outline with a small soft paintbrush in black, just to take off what was left of the hard edge. Seemed to work okay.

Thanks for your comments Leigh - I'm very impressed with your portfolio and look forward to meeting you on the Lamington Plateau trip if you're still able to make it. (Apr17)

Regards,

I reckon the black background looks great, but when I was looking at it on my laptops LCD which is coated in dust, it looked like the image had a starry background. As soon as I wiped the dust off it lost some of its magic.

Manta,

Could you please photochop in a starry background for me?