close cropping hair/fur

[scott_willock@adobeforums.com]

I have about 100+ hairy stuffed animal photos that have to close-cropped and was wondering if anyone knows the fastest/best way to go about it. Are there any plug-ins or applications that can do it?

Thanks

[Gary_Indiana@adobeforums.com]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you trying to closely select the images without making the hair look bad on the edges? That's usually not a toughie. I do Teddy Bears for a website, and I do that one all the time. Let me know if that's what you're trying to do.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

There are other applications that can do it. I've used Ultimatte Knockout very successfully. The interface was a little confusing at first for a PS user, but if you use their tutorial you'll figure it out pretty quickly. There are others that other people will swear by.

If the images are photographed against a solid background you may not need it though. Depending on what's in the background there may be easier ways of using layers, transparency, channel adjustments, and so on to clear it out. Specific advice is hard to give since the techniques would vary so much depending on the image.

And please don't say you need clipping paths! Find a way to keep everything in PS and your life will be easier on this one.

[Phosphor@adobeforums.com]

If the backgrounds those stuffed animals are on are busy and complex, it might be easier, if you have access to the toys, to reshoot the entire lot of them on a flat-colored, evenly lit backdrop.

You'd save a lot of time and aggravation.