Need Help with BackGround Eraser Tool

I've just completed my first real siggy and I think it looks pretty good for a 1st timer. But I'm having trouble with the Background Eraser tool in Paint Shop Pro. I like using the Free hand Selection tool, it seems easier than the BG Eraser. How do I erase more of the background around Sarah & Max? And "blend it" more too?

What size should I have the BG Eraser on? I've it on 35 round circle... what else do I need to know/do?

How do I resize the siggy. 160X 43. I thought I sized it at 500X 134.

Thanks

To cut out any object I use the Pen tool (9th button down on the left side). You just click and basically trace the object you want to remove, making sure to join up your last point with the first one you made. Then I right click and have "make selection" and choose a feathering level (usually 2). Then choose SELECT - INVERSE and hit delete.

Hope that helps.

I use photoshop, but prefer to use the point to point tool around what I want to keep, with a feather of about 3 for an original pic around 600-800px. Then paste that to a new layer and use the eraser with a feathered brush to clean up any edge colours I don't want