Clearing a white background?

[Briantho]

Me again!

Anyway, following on from my panorama question, the image is, in fact, some sheet music stretched out in panorama form. In the PE3 project it will move across the lower part of the screen etc. Using the Magic Eraser Tool I can convert the white page to transparent thus only showing the notes, staves, markings etc. However, brilliant as this tool may be, there's a lot of clicking to be done! Is there a way of indicating 'convert all white to transparent' in a PSD?

Many thanks in advance.

[Steve Grisetti]

Try this, Brian:

First, make sure your image isn't the background layer. If it is, double-click this background layer (in the Layer panel). A dialogue box will open indicated that the layer has become a regular layer and not the background anymore.

Use the Magic Wand tool. Click on the white area. Under the Selection drop-down choose Select Similar. (You may need to adjust the Tolerance if it chooses more or less than just the area of the graphic you want. The click Delete. Instant transparency!

Now, if you have a problem it's going to be this: Most graphics are not just black and white. You have a softer, gray area around the black text (it's called anti-aliasing, and it makes the color breaks look more natural). And removing that and leaving the black text behind can be a bit tricky (and can leave your text looking a bit too crisp).

Does that help?

[Briantho]

Fantastic - many thanks Steve!

Actually, when doing a right-click I couldn't find the drop-down 'Select Similar' but by unchecking the 'Contiguous' box at the top I ended up with the same effect - just what I wanted.

There's no problem with colours here as it's black music notes on white paper and in any case it's ultimately going to be 33% opacity and slowly moving across the bottom of the screen as the music plays. It's intended to give more of an impression than something to sing from

This is a GREAT forum!

[Briantho]

I don't often do anything with Photoshop - I'd much appreciate some help here. I've created a new PSD file using Steve's excellent advice but there are a few small remaining areas of white (non-transparent) that I'd like to get rid of.

Having used the Magic Wand and pressed delete I saved the file as a PSD and it looks great in the timeline. Back in Photoshop the 'ants' are still moving on the checkered background and my problem is that I can't see how to erase (make transparent) the last bits near the edges of the image and so on. Probably a dumb question but many thanks in advance for any advice.

[Briantho]

Whoops - all OK. I got the 'ants' to stop and it all works as I'd hoped.

[Steve Grisetti]

As I'm sure you figured out, Brian, you press Ctrl+d to de-select, which will make the marching ants disappear.

When an area is selected, your work will only affect the selected area. As you found, you can't erase or perform any other effect outside of the selected area.

[Briantho]

Many thanks Steve. Amazing - you're just ALWAYS there and much appreciated!

[Jayell]

Amazing - you're just ALWAYS there and much appreciated!

Doesn't he live here .. in the forum?

[Steve Grisetti]

Truer than you'd think, Jayell!