How do I remove cars from background?

This was just a snap, but there was no way to take a neutral background.

I'm mostly a LR 4 user and have Elements 11.  Reducing this background clutter is beyond my skills.

Is there a way, in Elements, to clone the wall and street over the messy looking cars and trucks?

I know how to add a completely different background but I'd prefer it to look natural.  And I still won't know how to fix the cars seen through the windows.

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ted
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I've seen a tutoral where they reproduced a scaled clone of a very large section of a photo.  I can't find that feature in Elements.  Is this just in full PS?

Here's the tut:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMXz1Aik0e4&feature=plcp&context=C453b32bVDvjVQa1PpcFNTP0Crpf5MTOug13GphvJxNfI-gAn7S3Q%3D

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ted
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Full Photoshop has better masking the Elements. LR is not really an editor lacks layers support.  Besides removing the background you need to remove the truck and red car the can be seen through the car's windows.

Photoshop has better tools for isolating objects then elements which is reflected in the $600 higher price.

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JJMack

Good luck with that one... it will take some time to get the cars properly removed from the window glass.

I would recommend a combo of Photoshop and either onone Perfect mask or (even better) Topaz Remask.

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-Lois-
"God doesn't give us what we can handle; God helps us handle what we are given." -Unknown





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Claude

Quick and dirty keeping the original background, but you would be better of extracting the car to another natural background.

Regards Patsym

WOW, thanx a bunch.  I have to learn how tom do that.  Did you just paint in the white?  Then preplace the one color with the new image?  Or something else?

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ted
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Another great job.  What software and technique do you use?

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ted
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-Lois-
"God doesn't give us what we can handle; God helps us handle what we are given." -Unknown

Patsy,

That's exactly what I had in mind. What were the steps you used? Do I have the required tools in Elements?

I agree that a better background could be inserted.  But the photo is for a friend and he wants in his local environment.  After taking too many shots I realized I would be asking for help with post-processing.

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ted
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This can be done with Elements, a combination of "Cut & Paste, Clone Stamp Tool. Look into joining PET (Photoshop Elements Techniques) on line. Tons of information.

Bob

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www.raphoto.zenfolio.com

Thanx Bob,  That's what I need to know.

I'll try the Elements group you suggest.

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ted
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My try
Ray

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VISIT MY WEBSITE HERE...HOPE YOU LIKE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77568703@N03/

Ted all I used was the Patch Tool and mostly the Clone Stamp Tool, I actually rushed through it, but if you took your time I'm sure you would do a much better job than I did. It's a long time since I used Elements , but I'm pretty sure those two tool's are available.

Regards Patsym

I thought a setting like this was good. Vertus mask to mask out the car and final touch ups done with Corel.

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Only when you can criticize yourself, should you criticize others. Mikes.

Thanx Ray,  I love your work.  This one is crazy nice.

But if you saaw my thanx and reply to Patsy, I'm doing this for a friend who wants his car in its native environment.

What I need to learn is the first part you use to clone out the extra cars.  Or did you mask the old car and then operate on the new background?

I've owned Elements for years but seldom edit image contents.  The members of this forum are so generous with time and knowledge.  You all are starting me down the road of doing things that I never tried to do in Lightroom.  Oh dear, my conservative friends will ask me to leave our photo club. 

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ted
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Thanx Patsy,

Elements has a Clone Stamp Tool.  I've used it for simple things like telephone wires, but when I tried on this image it looked worse not better.  So I need to practise, practise, practise.

Google tells me that Elements doesn't have a Patch Tool, but does show a few sites that talk about a psuedo Patch Tool.  I'll look there.

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ted
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Used copy and pasting, and cloning.

Here is a LucisArt play also.



This one done with the LucisArt Plugin

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Slider44