Delete a part of background

[psphufi]

Hi there,

is it possible to delete a part of the background of an image in that way that this deleted part is complete erased?

Please see e.g. the image attached: I wish that the man in the right go closer to the man in the middle, with his ellbow near the shoulder of that central person.

I was trying out so many times but I cannot find out if this is possible...

Thank you for an idea!

I am using PSP 2022 ultimate

[LeviFiction]

The tool that you would normally use for something like this is the smart carver. From the menu select Image -> Smart Carver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93L5yLAaCFc

Here is how I painted the areas in the smart carver - the green tells it to keep those areas intact, the red is the area to remove.

Though it will mess up the background altogether and you'll have to clean it up to hide the seam. I used cloning and layers, to try and fix it. I think it looks alright though could be done with more care.

[Jean-Luc]

I'll explain in a future message how I did it.

[Jean-Luc]

I promoted the background layer (right-click in the Layers Palette).
I used the Eraser tool to make transparent the background behind the right man.

I selected the right man and promoted that selection to a layer.
I moved that selection to the left.
I erased the right man in the bottom layer.
With the Magic Wand Tool, I selected the transparent area of the background layer.
I clicked on the Object Remover Tool and selected the top left leaves.

Clicking on Apply filled the empty selected area with leaves.
With the Lighten/Darken Brush, I darkened part of the middle man (under the right man's elbow) and some areas of the bottom foliage behind the right man.

[psphufi]

Unbelievable, your result, Jean-Luc! I would never have thought that such a thing is possible...
Thank you for showing how I can do it! This is really very very good...

Both ways you both showed are very usable. I will now be able to apply your tips to many images!

Thanks again, and have a good time

Norbert

[psphufi]

@LiveFiction

My PSP does not accept green areas that are not closed. I can't create a red area like you show, because then all areas of the image will be colored red, except for these green brush strokes....

[Jean-Luc]

My PSP does not accept green areas that are not closed. I can't create a red area like you show, because then all areas of the image will be colored red, except for these green brush strokes....

Drag the green/red lines to the top and the bottom of the image.

[Jean-Luc]

Another possibility:

[psphufi]

Thank you Jean-Luc!

[Jean-Luc]

This works too:

[JoeB]

The result of your "This works too" attempt doesn't quite work because it distorts the stomach and lower body of the man on the right I'm afraid.

[Jean-Luc]

The result of your "This works too" attempt doesn't quite work because it distorts the stomach and lower body of the man on the right I'm afraid.

Easy to correct:

[LeviFiction]

And now the other's arm is wonky. xD In my image I gave up trying to make them perfect, and just duplicated the image, then on multiple layers I used selections and cloning from the previous image to re-build the background. It was no easier using the smart cutter in the end than it was to just cut the one guy out and crop the background.

[Kathy_9]

Just for fun, another approach. I used Topaz ReMask5 plug-in in PSP to cut the men out and then put the man on the right on a separate layer so I could maneuver him closer to the middle man. I also wanted to move his elbow behind the middle man because it looked like an unnatural pose since I moved him away from what he was originally leaning on. Since I had the men cut out I put them on a different background.

[Jean-Luc]

Excellent, Kathy !