Abstract: A method for extracting a clear frame from an image frame containing at least one or more subjects disposed before a backing, whose color and luminance vary smoothly from one backing area to another. The method replaces a subject's pixel signal levels with backing pixel signal levels. The method selects a known backing pixel and compares the RGB signal levels of an adjacent pixel with the RGB signal levels of the known backing pixel and identifies the adjacent pixel as a backing pixel when its RGB signal levels are each within an assigned tolerance of the RGB signal levels of the known backing pixel. This comparison is performed on all known backing pixels with unidentified adjacent pixels until all pixels in the image frame have been examined and all backing pixels identified.