With Photoshop, how to batch replace white background with transparent in the image

Question

I have got hundreds images of products with clear white backgrounds. I would like to change the white background color to become transparent.

Is there a means of batch processing this particular process with Photoshop or any other applications?

Answer 1

Unfortunately there is no easy quick-fix for this

My typical method of choice is; Go to the channels panel, toggle through the Red Green and Blue options to see which has the most contrast, duplicate this layer and then ctrl/cmd+l the levels slider to increase this. Then using the brush on this layer colour in black what you want and white what you don't. You can then click on this channel for a selection path (ensure you re-click the rgb and uncheck your duplicate channel) and use a layer mask to perform a non-destructive deletion of the area you want to isolate (reverse the selection ctrl/cms + shift + I if necessary).

This site explains it with images too.

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/blrbps_2fwks.htm

There are of course some uglier methods such as the wand too... Depending on the final size of the images, this may be ok. However, for a really high quality cut-out there is no substitute for time.

Answer 2

Just found this for you:

http://www.howtogeek.com/59634/remove-backgrounds-automatically-with-a-free-photoshop-action/

I guess it would work if your client doesn't need perfect masks for them (which would be okay for a webpage, since everything is small anyway)

But professionally speaking, I would mask them out one by one, just so nothing goes wrong. Anything you do automatic on photoshop is bound to go wrong when you least expect it.

Answer 3

The way that I do it is described here: it involves inverting the layer. It works well for the majority of situations but if you have lots of non-solid edge elements it can be a bit fussy.

Answer 4

There is no automatic way to do this.