How to remove white from an black outline drawing?

**Sapiento** · 03-23-2010, 02:57 AM

I need some help.
I used a while ago a technique in PS with Quick mask to remove the white from a black outline drawing. Something with copy and past and cut, or so. But I haven't done it for some time and even if the fate of mankind would depend on it, my brain refuses to remember how I did it. The technique didn't use any brush or lasso tool, just cut or copy in some way with the activated quick mask function at some point.

I'm not sure, but I think I read in one of the subforums about this.

Thanks in advance for any hints.

**waldronate** · 03-23-2010, 03:15 AM

I just use the Select>>Color Range tool to select the background color (adjust fuzziness to get the whole thing) and then cut to remove it. Usually there's not too much need to do for map elements because a blending mode of multiply works well for black and white overlays.

**Sapiento** · 03-23-2010, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by waldronate

I just use the Select>>Color Range tool to select the background color (adjust fuzziness to get the whole thing) and then cut to remove it. Usually there's not too much need to do for map elements because a blending mode of multiply works well for black and white overlays.

Thanks. I know the technique you described, but the one I can't remember (lousy brain) worked somewhat better than this.

**Daelin** · 03-23-2010, 04:03 AM

Background Eraser Tool?

**Sapiento** · 03-23-2010, 04:16 AM

Thanks, Daelin. What was so nice with the quick mask method was the simplicity. Three or four clicks and the white was gone. Dammit, if I could only remember....

**Daelin** · 03-23-2010, 05:10 AM

But the Background Eraser Tool is basically: set background color to white, 2500px brush, click once on canvas...

**Sapiento** · 03-23-2010, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by Daelin

But the Background Eraser Tool is basically: set background color to white, 2500px brush, click once on canvas...

I'll try it as soon as I get to my PC.

**Dain** · 03-23-2010, 08:03 AM

I've got the same problem and find the easiest way to do it with ... Gimp
Menu Colors/color to alpha
It removes the white background and makes all transparent in 3clics
save and open with PS and do what you have to do

I wish i could do it with PS but ... not the case

**tilt** · 03-23-2010, 09:25 AM

I'm not 100% sure I understand your question - but here goes ... try going to alpha channels (its by your layers) and CTRL click on the black channel - this should select the black colors. Then, returning to your layer you can add a layer mask for non-destructive editing or you can inverse selection and delete.

**Ilwan** · 03-23-2010, 01:35 PM

http://aoi-hoshi.deviantart.com/art/...tion-103785705

Photoshop action that does it nice and clean.

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