How do I remove the white background of a picture (and make it transparent)?

If we have an image with a uniform background unicolor (need not be white) is the want to eliminate, the procedure is very simple.

To obtain the subject with the background transparent select the Magic Wand tool and click on the background to remove. Without this, select the Magic Eraser tool and click on the selected area. In doing so the colored background disappears and becomes transparent.

Obviously this solution is effective with drawn images (like clip-art), while the photo is normally needed to process a little 'more complex to remove any noise.