4 Ways To Remove Backgrounds In Photoshop For Beginners
TLDRIn this tutorial, Brandon from bewellcreative.com teaches beginners four easy methods to remove backgrounds in Photoshop. The first method uses a one-click 'Remove Background' button in the Properties panel, which applies a layer mask to hide the background. The second technique involves the Magic Wand tool for selecting areas of similar color, with settings like Sample Size and Tolerance to refine the selection. The third method is the Object Selection tool, which uses AI to identify and select subjects, and the Select and Mask workspace for fine-tuning edges, particularly hair. The final method is the Select Color Range tool, ideal for simple backgrounds, which samples colors to create a selection. By combining these techniques, even complex subjects like curly hair can be cleanly separated from their backgrounds. The video promises more advanced selection techniques for those looking to challenge themselves further.
Takeaways
- 🎨 **Simple Button Method**: Beginners can remove backgrounds by clicking the 'Remove Background' button in the Properties panel or using the 'Select Subject' option with selection tools.
- 🔍 **Layer Mask Explanation**: A layer mask hides areas in a photo, with black being fully transparent and white being fully visible.
- 🧙♂️ **Magic Wand Tool**: This tool is adept at selecting a color and turning it into a selection, with settings like Sample Size and Tolerance affecting the selection.
- 🌟 **Anti-alias and Contiguous Options**: Anti-alias smooths the selection edges, while Contiguous ensures only touching pixels are selected, useful for background removal.
- 🔧 **Object Selection Tool**: Allows for more precise selection by defining an area and letting Photoshop find edges within that area.
- 🧑💻 **AI Object Finder**: A newer feature that uses AI to select subjects easily, though it may not always be perfect for complex background removals.
- 🖌 **Select and Mask Tool**: For refining selections, especially for complex areas like hair, by painting over areas to keep or refine the edge.
- 👩🦱 **Refine Hair Button**: A feature within 'Select and Mask' that attempts to remove all background from hair, but may require manual touch-ups.
- 🌈 **Color Range Selection**: A technique for backgrounds of a single color, allowing for sampling colors to create a selection, useful for complex subjects.
- ➿ **Combining Techniques**: For complicated subjects, use a combination of 'Color Range' for the main selection and 'Select Subject' for touch-ups.
- 📘 **Advanced Techniques**: There are more complex methods for professional-level selections, which can yield cleaner results but may be beyond the scope of beginners.
Q & A
What are the four methods discussed in the tutorial for removing backgrounds in Photoshop?
-The four methods discussed are: 1) Using the 'Remove Background' or 'Select Subject' button in the Properties panel, 2) Using the Magic Wand tool for color-based selections, 3) Using the Object Selection tool with AI for more accurate selections, and 4) Using the Select Color Range tool for simple backgrounds with a single color.
How does the 'Remove Background' button in the Properties panel work?
-The 'Remove Background' button automatically selects the subject and removes the background by applying it onto a layer mask. Black areas on the layer mask are fully transparent, while white areas are fully visible.
What is the purpose of the 'Select Subject' button in the Properties panel?
-The 'Select Subject' button is used to create a selection around the subject for spot adjustments without removing the background.
How does the Magic Wand tool select colors in an image?
-The Magic Wand tool selects a color by clicking on it and turns that color into a selection based on the sample size and tolerance settings. It is particularly good at selecting areas of uniform color.
What does the 'anti-alias' option do when making a selection with the Magic Wand tool?
-The 'anti-alias' option smooths the edges of the selection to prevent a blocky appearance when the selected area is cut out.
What is the role of the 'contiguous' option when using the Magic Wand tool?
-The 'contiguous' option restricts the selection to pixels that are touching each other. When enabled, it prevents the tool from selecting non-adjacent areas of similar color.
How does the Object Selection tool work in Photoshop?
-The Object Selection tool allows users to define a specific area using either a lasso or a marquee selection, and then Photoshop attempts to find edges within that area to create a selection. It also has an AI feature called 'Object Finder' that can automatically select multiple objects in a photo.
What is the 'Select and Mask' workspace used for?
-The 'Select and Mask' workspace is used for refining selections, especially for complex areas like hair. It provides tools like 'Refine Hair', 'Refine Edge Brush', and 'Decontaminate Colors' to improve the selection.
How can the Select Color Range tool help with complicated selections on a simple background?
-The Select Color Range tool samples colors in the photo and turns them into a selection. It is particularly useful for backgrounds with a single color, as it can create a clean selection around the subject, including complex areas like curly hair.
What is the advantage of using the Select Color Range tool combined with the 'Select Subject' button?
-The advantage is that the Select Color Range tool can provide a clean selection around complex areas like hair on a simple background, and then the 'Select Subject' button can be used to quickly refine and touch up the rest of the selection without needing to be perfect across the entire photo.
What are some limitations of the 'Remove Background' button for certain images?
-The 'Remove Background' button may not make an accurate selection of the subject in some images, or it might not recognize the subject at all, leading to an unsuccessful background removal.
Why might a beginner choose to use the Magic Wand tool over the 'Remove Background' button?
-A beginner might choose the Magic Wand tool for its simplicity and quick selection capabilities, especially when dealing with images that have large areas of uniform color.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to Background Removal Techniques in Photoshop
This paragraph introduces the viewer to four easy methods for removing backgrounds in Photoshop. It emphasizes the simplicity of these techniques, which are suitable even for beginners. The paragraph explains that some methods are as simple as clicking a button, but also acknowledges their limitations. The speaker, Brandon from bewellcreative.com, starts with a simple button-based technique using the 'Remove Background' or 'Select Subject' options in the Properties panel. It also mentions alternative selection tools like the Object Selection Tool, Quick Selection Tool, and Magic Wand Tool, which can be used for more complex images where the simple button method might not suffice.
🛠️ Using the Magic Wand Tool for Background Removal
The second paragraph delves into the use of the Magic Wand Tool for selecting and removing backgrounds. It explains how the tool works by selecting colors and turning them into selections. The importance of settings like Sample Size, Tolerance, Anti-alias, and Contiguous is highlighted. The paragraph demonstrates how to make a selection by clicking and using the Shift key to add to the selection. It also discusses how to refine the selection using the 'Select and Mask' workspace and the 'Refine Hair' button, which is particularly useful for complex selections like hair. The limitations of the Magic Wand Tool are acknowledged, leading into the next method.
🎨 Advanced Selection Techniques with the Object Selection Tool
The third paragraph focuses on the Object Selection Tool, which allows for more precise control over the selection process. It describes how to use the tool to define a specific area for selection, either by using the Lasso or Rectangle mode. The paragraph also mentions the AI feature in the tool that helps in selecting multiple objects within a photo. However, it notes that while the Object Finder can be useful for selective adjustments, it may not always be ideal for background removals. The Select and Mask workspace is introduced for refining selections, particularly around complex edges like hair. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of a more advanced tutorial for cutting out hair in a more realistic manner.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Photoshop
💡Layer Mask
💡Select Subject
💡Magic Wand Tool
💡Object Selection Tool
💡Select and Mask
💡Color Range
💡Layer
💡Contiguous
💡Anti-alias
💡Fuzziness
Highlights
Learn four easy ways to remove backgrounds in Photoshop, even for beginners.
Simple one-click technique to remove backgrounds using the 'Remove Background' button.
Unlocking layers and using layer masks for non-destructive editing.
Utilizing the 'Select Subject' feature for quick selections.
The Magic Wand tool for selecting areas of similar color.
Adjusting sample size and tolerance for more accurate selections with the Magic Wand.
Using Anti-alias and Contiguous options for smoother and more precise selections.
Inverting selections to remove backgrounds with the Magic Wand.
Object Selection Tool for more control over selecting and removing backgrounds.
AI-enhanced Object Selection Tool for easier subject selection.
Combining Lasso and Marquee selection methods for detailed object selection.
Using 'Select and Mask' for fine-tuning selections, especially around complex areas like hair.
Refine Hair function and Quick Selection Tool for detailed refinement of selections.
Decontaminate Colors feature to improve the final look of selections.
Combining Select Color Range with Select Subject for complicated selections on simple backgrounds.
Technique to manually sample multiple areas for a more comprehensive selection.
Inverting selections and using a brush tool for touch-ups after using Select Color Range.
Advanced techniques for professional-level background removal.