# Taking Photos for Instant Alpha

While the instant alpha tool will function with any photo, you'll get best results if you take your photos with instant alpha in mind.

- Position your subject against a flat background - such as a wall or a sky.

  The instant alpha tool works by finding similar colors (with some variability) to the one you first select. So the more uniform the colors in the background the faster and better the instant alpha will be.

- Consider the context for the image.

  There are two major reasons to want to knock out an image from a background:

  - Relocation: think about what your subject will be doing when put in front of the new background. Will they be reacting to something? Looking at something? What would be most natural.
  - Interior Drama: it's common in comic books for a character to be shown solo expressing some emotion with a dramatic background behind (such as speed lines). For these shots make sure you get a well lit close up of your subject's face expressing the right emotion.