Photo editing - Easy object removal
This blog is intended to cover a very simple lesson on how to remove an unwanted object from an image using photoshop - the video link below gives a visual lesson on how this is achieved. Simple removal takes less than a minute once you know the steps involved.
The deeper message here is do not wholly trust any image you see - in the news, in magazines, on websites - or even on my own blog or facebook page.
All will have been edited to some degree. Even a simple jpeg image taken on a pocket camera will have undergone a degree of adjustment using the in-camera software.
By changing camera settings as I shoot I change the resultant image. An easy example of that is if I change the aperture - or depth of field setting. The effect of doing so can dramatically change the result that comes straight from the camera. I shall do a future blog on this topic.
This comes down to personal ethics and what you as a photographer are trying to achieve. For me, when I do a travel style image, I try to reflect reality and - as in this example - I have no problems with the removal of a temporary object.
This went on even in the days of film, so don’t fall for the “this is a digital problem” argument. Cropping, adjusting lighting and even object removal happened in the film days.
Anyway, digressing a bit, getting carried away - apologies! This blog is simply to show how the “object removal” process can be done. There’s a video below followed by a written walkthrough. Thanks for reading and please do follow the youtube channel - I hope to do a small series of similar lessons/examples, keeping it simple.
To start with, here is the “before” image.
The blue rubbish bag annoys me - it’s a temporary object that detracts from the scene - I have no qualms about “object removal” in this instance. The “after” image is still a fair reflection of reality. I could have gone down the hill, moved the bag and come back up again. But it was a steep hill so that wasn’t happening.
So…how is such an object removed? The whole video lasts less than two minutes and in that time I go through the process twice. So, view on, MacDuff…
If the video is a bit quick to follow, here are the steps I went through…
Open an image and select the “lasso” tool
Zoom in and select the unwanted object, leaving a small margin around it
From the ‘Edit’ menu, select ‘content aware fill’
Check the preview and click “OK’
A new layer will have been created. On a Mac, use Command ‘E’. To flatten the image
Alternatively, choose "‘merge layer’ from the Layers menu
Zoom out, make sure it looks ok, save the new image
And that’s it - job done. Below is my image after removal of the blue rubbish bag. I doubt many people, if anyone, would pick up the editing if this had been presented as the original.
And here if the “after” image - very quick and easy and unlikely any casual observer would realise that anything had been taken from the shot.
So - that’s the end of this simple lesson. I hope of some interest - either for those who wish to do some editing or for anyone academically interested in how images can be altered. As time allows, I shall do more of these posts.
In the meantime, stay home, stay safe, be kind!
Fatman xxx