Best Practices for Achieving High-Quality AI Image Extractions

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2.1 Importance of Even, Consistent Lighting: Achieving even and consistent lighting is crucial for high-quality AI image extractions. Proper lighting ensures that the subject is well-illuminated, with minimal shadows and highlights, allowing the AI to accurately distinguish the subject from the background. Inconsistent lighting can create harsh shadows or blown-out highlights, which complicate the extraction process and reduce the quality of the cutout.

2.2 Avoiding Harsh Shadows and Blown-Out Highlights:

• Highlight Control: Use reflectors and diffusers to control and soften highlights, preventing areas of the image from becoming overly bright and losing detail. When using backlighting or edge lighting, especially on white or very light backgrounds, be sure to leave some separation in tone between the background and foreground
• Shadow Control: Use fill light to fill in dark areas of your subject. Especially in dark settings like gyms, ensuring sufficient tonal value in your shadows is crucial for separating the subject from the background.

2.3 Ideal Lighting Setups for Portraits and Group Photos:

• Individual Lighting: The key light is the primary source of illumination, the fill light reduces shadows, and the backlight separates the subject from the background.
• Group Lighting: For group photos, use broad, even lighting to ensure all subjects are well-lit.
• Background Lighting: Consider lighting the background separately to create a clear distinction between the subject and the background.

3.1 Using Plain, Uncluttered Backgrounds: The choice of background is critical for achieving clean AI image extractions. Solid-colored backgrounds with minimal texture are ideal.

3.2 Best Colors and Materials for Backgrounds:

• Solid Colors: Use neutral colors like white or gray to minimize distractions and enhance clarity.
• Materials: Smooth and non-reflective materials like fabric backdrops or matte vinyl work best.
• Foot Placement Mats: Use mats matching your background color to avoid introducing unwanted elements.

3.3 Avoiding Patterned or Busy Backgrounds: Intricate designs or textures create visual noise and confuse AI algorithms.

3.4 Props: Props add personality to photos but can be challenging for AI, which focuses on isolating people and may remove props unintentionally, we differentiate between simple and complex props:

• Simple Props: Held close to the body, like a basketball or small item. AI retains these well.
• Complex Props: Extend beyond the subject or have fine details. Examples are baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, transparent dance costume fabrics, hockey sticks, skate blades, or any type of netting. AI may remove or distort the complex props. For best results, 36Pix’s human verified extraction service is used.

We suggest applying these best practices for AI extractions with props: 

• Use a Contrasting Background. It helps AI separate subjects and props.
• Choose Props Wisely. Avoid detailed items that blend into the background.
• Keep Props Close.  Stay within the subject’s boundaries to prevent removal
• Ensure Even Lighting. Reduces shadows and improves extraction quality.
• Use Depth & Perspective.  Enhances AI accuracy and clarity.

4.1 Choosing the Right Aperture: Use f/8 or higher for sufficient depth of field.

4.2 Using a Fast Shutter Speed: Use a minimum shutter speed of 1/125 second to avoid motion blur.

4.3 Setting the Correct ISO: Use ISO 100-400 in well-lit environments, or higher ISO values (800-1600) with care in low light.

5.1 Basic Adjustments in Exposure, Contrast, and White Balance:

• Exposure: Ensure balanced exposure with no areas too dark or too bright.
• Contrast: Slightly increase contrast to enhance the separation between subject and background.
• White Balance: Correct white balance to ensure colors are true to life.

5.2 Avoiding Over-Editing that Can Complicate AI Extractions:

• Natural Look: Maintain a natural appearance; avoid excessive sharpening or heavy filters.
• Edge Clarity: Avoid effects that blur or soften edges, as clear, sharp edges are crucial for accurate extractions.

5.3 Ensuring Image Clarity and Sharpness in Post-Processing:

• Sharpening: Apply sharpening selectively to enhance details without introducing noise.
• Noise Reduction: Reduce graininess to improve clarity and allow AI to focus on the subject.
• Clarity Adjustments: Adjust mid-tone contrast cautiously to avoid creating halos around the subject. In rare cases, AI extractions may result in a light-colored fringe around the hair due to edge detection or feathering issues. Please keep in mind: While AI enhances efficiency, human verification ensures optimal results by refining edges and correcting imperfections.