clipping an image

[SaffaBird]

Hi there,

Pls can somebody help me - I've been stuck on this problem for two days now and I can't seem to come right.

I have a JPG of a paperclip and the background of the paperclip is white. I need to 'cut the paperclip out of the background', so that I just have the paperclip and not the white background, as I need to place the paperclip under some text and on top of a solid colour.

I have tried using a mask, but it won't allow me to use a mask. I've tried a clipping path but when I place the paperclip on top of the solid colour, the white background still shows...

eeeek - all I want is the paperclip minus the background... how the heck do I do this? I tried the lasso tool and outlined the paperclip and for some reason, it won't allow me to pop on a mask. I

I've also tried the magic wand, which outlines the paperclip perfectly, but then what do I do next? How do I extract the paperclip on it's own to place on top of a solid colour?

Does this make any sense to anyone?

[LeadMagnet]

Select it and copy.
Paste onto the solid colour.

[SaffaBird]

Tried that and it doesn't work either. The white background still appears.

I'm working in photoshop and need to import the selection to indesign.

I have attached the paperclip for you to see what I mean.

Oh, and every time I try and do something to the image in photoshop, it tells me the layer is locked!

I'm not a whizz at this as you may gather!

[El Peligroso]

I think what you are looking for is a clipping path, that should leave you the clip minus a background colour

[SaffaBird]

yes, but I'm battling to do it. I'm reading my old notes on how to do it but can't make heads or tails of what I wrote and the online help in photoshop is Chinese to me. I'm not getting much luck. This is what I've done.

1. Take the lasso tool and outline the paperclip
2. Pop on mask
3. Take paintbrush and select the image (paperclip)
4. Then my notes say "remove the mask" and I can't find that option ????
5. The next step say, go to paths and make a work path (0.5) tolerance and save path
6. Then make a clipping path, flatness 15, file - save.

I can do steps 1 to 2 but then can't go any further as I'm obviously doing something wrong.

[drewbie_wan]

Pen Tool - trace your paper clip
right click and make selections
inverse your selction and then hit delete.

[rick22]

what are you using..? photoshop
its a lot easier in adobe photoshop

[afox]

You could go old school and use the eraser to delete all the white :) Just takes a second.

[Arkady]

I suspect that you might be trying to work on the background layer. If the paper clip is on the background layer you will need to copy the layer first before you can edit it. You should also then either turn off or delete the original background layer.

[SaffaBird]

I'm designing my logo in Illustrator and have worked on the paperclip in Photoshop CS2. I then need to import the paperclip back into illustrator to merge with the rest of the logo.

Yes, I am trying to work on the background layer but for some reason it says it's locked! I have tried the eraser tool in photoshop and moved the clip into illustrator, but the white background still appears.

I'm not sure how to copy the layer to edit it? How do you turn off or delete the original back layer?

Sorry to sound so stupid, but I'm not good at this part.

I'm having absolutely no luck. I must be doing something wrong as it can't be so hard to do?