KnockOut2 vs. Photoshop's Extract

[Ernest Burden III]

I have some people photos that need to be removed from backgrounds to use in renderings. Don't we all.

 

But how to most effectively do this? I have been seeing reviews and ads for Corel's KnockOut2 and bought it. I had tried the Photoshop Extract filter before and wasn't completely happy with it for speed or accuracy.

 

Unfortunately, I was even less happy with KnockOut2. I just tried each on the same file, and the built-in Photoshop filter does a better job. Neither works without cleanup. In KO2 you do most of this within the filter, which takes some learning. With Extract, you do this in PS which I already am good at. Neither was as quick as I was hoping. Spending an hour or two per figure isn't so much fun.

 

So KO2 is yet another piece of shelfware for me.

[Elliot]

Ernest,

 

Thanks.... your comment is exactly how I feel about the Knockout 2, The magazines did such a wonderful review on a piece of trash that I fell once again on the trap. Not the first time, I also have a list of programs that do not work correctly or as advertised. One of them is that Realviz, it is not a bad program but it is certainly over priced for what it does.

 

The best one is a program I purchased from a dealer in the US that sells plugins for 3D MAx. This program was for doing animations. It costed 1,000.00 and then they charged 300.00 for tech support on two phone calls. The program was worst than the average shareware. I forgot the name but it came from France. However, the worst one is Microsoft......! With their unpredictable Windows....

 

 

Thanks

Elliot

[Iain Denby]

Spending an hour or two per figure isn't so much fun.

 

.

 

Goodness me!

 

I use Photoshops magnetic lazzo tool with a bit of clean-up and an action to finish the job off. Each figure about 5 minutes!

[Ernest Burden III]

I use Photoshops magnetic lazzo tool with a bit of clean-up and an action to finish the job off. Each figure about 5 minutes!

 

Ah, but how are the edges?

 

For a figure that will be used at a few hundred pixels high...

 

But spending two hours on each figure is not making me smile. I can bring down the time with getting comfortable with Extract.

 

Give it a try.

 

 

EDIT: with a little more use, and being less picky, I guess I can get a good figure cut in 10 - 15 minutes. I am working with scans of prints, so they are not as good as digital shots, but that's what I have at the moment.

 

This is at full-res, layed over a gray field:

[DennisB]

Ugh! I hate it when I press the wrong key and see my post disappear... Once again,

 

I use PS Color Select and Quick Mask to erase or add from there. I find it easier to erase on the mask than work with extract tools.

 

Color Select and Quick Mask erasing is problematic with intricate objects like foliage, however, although it helps to work with very large objects you've selectively photographed against contrasting backgrounds. I imagine that's how most of the tree and foliage texture companies work.

[Iain Denby]

Ah, but how are the edges?

.

This is at full-res, layed over a gray field:

 

 

This is one of mine...not too bad (forget the digital noise)

[Brian Cassil]

Iain, there must be somthing other than the "magnetic lasso" tool you use to cut out the hair from the background. What's the trick!

[Juan Altieri]

this is a really important topic, i allways use free lazo, needs a lot of precision, but give allways more clear resoults, about the borders, after cutoff, i made a little blur to correct some defects and antialiasing, and improve the blur effect on hair.........