How to select children from a complex background?

Question

I am trying to figure out how to select a group of children from the background. The image below is not the one I am using, but it is similar in that there is no clear distinction between the children and the background, and the background is complex. How would you go about tackling something like this? Can you point me to any good Photoshop selection tutorials?

Answer 1

I have only access to GIMP, which has a specialized foreground selection tool, and it's still not precise enough to select objects on a complex background. My approach would be to try that and than perhaps refine edit the selection using masks, which probably would work very for hair and similar stuff.

IMO the best bet way to handle this situation is to avoid it by shooting on simple black/white background if you know you'll want cutouts.

Answer 2

You could try downloading the CS5 demo version, then you'd have the advanced tools to use for 30 days...