Clever Trick to Cut Out an Image in Photoshop

Cristi Kerekes
30 May 202207:38

TLDRIn this video, the host teaches a professional method to cut out an image in Photoshop, specifically focusing on removing the background from a tree image. The process involves using the Quick Selection Tool and the 'Select Subject' feature, followed by refining the selection with the 'Select and Mask' tool and the 'Refine Edge Brush'. To eliminate fringing and enhance details, the host suggests disabling the 'Decontaminate Colors' option and making adjustments to 'Feather' and 'Contrast'. A Hue/Saturation adjustment layer is used to correct color issues on the tree's edges. The selection is then refined further by loading the layer mask selection, creating a Solid Color adjustment layer, and inverting the layer mask to enhance the edges. The final result is a detailed and natural-looking cutout that can be easily adapted to different backgrounds, as demonstrated with the addition of sunset skies. The host emphasizes the importance of practice in achieving realistic effects in Photoshop.

Takeaways

  • 🖼️ Use the Quick Selection Tool and 'Select Subject' to make an initial selection of the image.
  • 🎨 Press 'Q' to better visualize the selection and identify areas needing refinement.
  • 🖌️ Utilize the 'Select and Mask' with 'Refine Edge Brush' to clean up the selection around detailed areas like leaves.
  • 📐 Check the mask with a black and white view to ensure all necessary areas are included in the selection.
  • ❌ Avoid using the 'Decontaminate Colors' option as it can introduce artifacts and degrade the image quality.
  • 🔄 Create a duplicate layer and use a 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer to correct color fringes on the edges of the leaves.
  • 📏 Use the 'Targeting Tool' within the 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment to select and adjust specific colors causing issues.
  • ⭕️ Invert the layer mask and clip a black 'Solid Color' adjustment layer to enhance the edges of the selection.
  • 🔄 Hold 'Ctrl' and click on the layer mask to contract the selection, which helps in refining the edges.
  • 🌄 Import different sky images to test how the adjusted image integrates with various backgrounds.
  • 🎓 Practice is key when working with selections and effects in Photoshop for achieving realistic results.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue with the initial result of removing the background from an image in Photoshop?

    -The main issue is that the leaves have bluish fringing, the edges of the leaves are brighter, and a lot of details are lost.

  • What tool in Photoshop should you use as the first step to select the subject for background removal?

    -You should use the Quick Selection Tool and click on the 'Select Subject' button.

  • How does pressing 'Q' on the keyboard help with the selection process in Photoshop?

    -Pressing 'Q' allows you to see the selection better and make refinements more accurately.

  • What is the purpose of using the 'Refine Edge Brush' in the selection process?

    -The 'Refine Edge Brush' is used to brush over areas where the sky is still visible behind the leaves, making the final mask better and easier for Photoshop to process.

  • Why is it important to check the masking with the 'Black and White' view?

    -The 'Black and White' view helps to identify any areas that may have been missed during the selection process, allowing for corrections to be made.

  • What is the 'decontaminate colors' option and why should it be disabled in this context?

    -The 'decontaminate colors' option attempts to remove color fringes from the selection. However, in this context, enabling it can create artifacts and make the selection look unnatural, so it should be disabled.

  • What is the purpose of adding a 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer and clipping it to the layer below?

    -The 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer is used to correct color issues, such as the aqua color on the edges of the leaves. Clipping it ensures that the adjustment only affects the layer below.

  • How does reloading the selection from a layer mask with Ctrl + Click help in enhancing the edges of the selection?

    -Reloading the selection from a layer mask contracts the selection by one or two pixels, making it smaller and thus enhancing the edges of the original selection.

  • What is the benefit of inverting the layer mask and changing the color of the solid color adjustment layer?

    -Inverting the layer mask and changing the color allows for the edges of the selection to match the new environment or sky, making the image look more natural and realistic.

  • Why is it recommended to practice working with selections in Photoshop?

    -Practicing with selections helps to achieve more realistic effects, such as blurring backgrounds, and improves the overall quality and precision of the editing process.

  • How can changing the color of the edges using the solid color adjustment layer enhance the final image?

    -Changing the color of the edges to match the new sky or environment can greatly enhance the realism and visual appeal of the final image, making it look more cohesive.

  • What is the final step suggested for viewers who want to learn more about advanced Photoshop techniques?

    -The final step suggested is to subscribe to the channel for more tricks and tutorials on advanced Photoshop techniques.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Advanced Photoshop Background Removal Techniques

The first paragraph of the script introduces a common issue when removing backgrounds from images, specifically the problem of fringing and loss of detail. It then contrasts this with a professional technique that eliminates fringing and preserves details. The summary explains the step-by-step process using the Quick Selection Tool and the Select Subject feature in Photoshop. It also covers refining the selection with the Select and Mask option, using the Refine Edge Brush tool, and checking the mask with black and white view. The paragraph further discusses avoiding the 'decontaminate colors' option, adjusting feather and contrast settings, and the use of a solid color adjustment layer as a background check. It concludes with a demonstration of how to solve color issues on the edges of leaves using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and how to bring back details to the leaves for a more natural look.

05:00

🎨 Enhancing Image Details and Changing Background Colors

The second paragraph builds upon the previous one by showing how to enhance the edges of a selection and change the background color in Photoshop. It details the process of inverting a layer mask to emphasize the edges, creating a solid color adjustment layer, and clipping it to the image layer. The summary also explains how to adjust the color of the edges to match a new background environment by altering the hue and saturation. It concludes with a note on the importance of practice in working with selections and a teaser for another tutorial on blurring backgrounds in Photoshop.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop is a selection tool that allows users to make rough selections of objects in an image quickly. In the video, it is used as the first step to select the subject of the image, which is the tree. The tool is beneficial for beginners and helps in creating a preliminary selection that can be refined later.

💡Select Subject

This is a feature in Photoshop that automatically selects the main subject of an image. The video demonstrates using the 'Select Subject' button in conjunction with the Quick Selection Tool to quickly isolate the tree from its background. It's a time-saving feature that helps in achieving a more accurate selection with less manual effort.

💡Refine Edge Brush

The Refine Edge Brush is a tool within the Select and Mask workspace in Photoshop used to manually adjust the edges of a selection. In the video, it is employed to paint over the leaves where the sky is still visible, helping to create a smoother and more precise selection around the intricate details of the leaves.

💡Decontaminate Colors

This option in the Select and Mask feature of Photoshop aims to remove color fringes or unwanted colors from the edges of a selection. However, the video shows that using this option can sometimes lead to artifacts and a less desirable result, as seen when the leaves' edges turn to an unnatural color. It is later disabled to improve the selection quality.

💡Feather

Feathering in Photoshop refers to the process of softening the edges of a selection to create a smooth transition between the selected area and the surrounding pixels. In the video, a feather value of one is used to create a subtle softening of the selection's edge, which helps in making the transition between the tree and the background more natural.

💡Layer Mask

A layer mask in Photoshop is a non-destructive editing method that hides or reveals parts of a layer. The video demonstrates creating a layer mask from the refined selection to isolate the tree from its background. Layer masks are essential for maintaining the original image data while allowing for flexible editing.

💡Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer

This is an adjustment layer in Photoshop used to modify the hue, saturation, and lightness of colors in an image. In the context of the video, a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer is added to correct the color fringes on the leaves' edges, ensuring they match the natural color of the leaves after the background has been removed.

💡Clipping Mask

A clipping mask in Photoshop is used to restrict the visibility of the layers above it to the boundaries of the layer below it. The video shows creating a clipping mask with a Solid Color adjustment layer to ensure that the color adjustments only affect the layer beneath it, which in this case is the tree layer.

💡Inverting Selection

Inverting a selection in Photoshop means selecting the opposite of the current selection. The script describes using this technique to enhance the edges of the tree selection by first inverting a layer mask and then applying a Solid Color adjustment layer. This process helps to bring back details and create a more realistic cut-out.

💡Solid Color Adjustment Layer

This type of adjustment layer allows users to apply a flat color to an image, which can be used for various purposes, including creating a background or adjusting the color of specific areas. In the video, it is used to create a black background for the tree selection and later to adjust the color of the tree's edges to match a new sky.

💡Blur Backgrounds

Blurring the background in Photoshop is a technique used to create a depth of field effect, making the subject stand out more by softening the background details. The video hints at this technique as something that requires additional work and practice for realistic results, suggesting it as a topic for a future tutorial.

Highlights

A clever trick to remove the background from an image in Photoshop without fringing or losing details.

Using the quick selection tool and the 'select subject' feature for initial image selection.

Refining the selection with 'select and mask' and the 'refine edge brush' for better accuracy.

Checking the mask with a black and white view to ensure all areas are correctly included.

Disabling the 'decontaminate colors' option to avoid unwanted artifacts.

Adding a feather and contrast to the selection to improve the mask.

Creating a duplicate layer and using a solid color adjustment layer as a background check.

Fixing color issues on the edges of the leaves with a hue/saturation adjustment layer.

Targeting and adjusting the problematic cyan color to match the leaves' color.

Loading the selection from a layer mask to contract the selection by one or two pixels.

Creating a solid color adjustment layer and inverting its mask to enhance the edges of the selection.

Grouping layers and comparing the before and after results to showcase the improvement.

Bringing back details in the leaves for a more natural and realistic cutout.

Changing the color of the edges to match the new sky using the solid color adjustment layer.

Practicing selection techniques to achieve more realistic effects in Photoshop.

Learning how to blur backgrounds in Photoshop for additional effects.

The importance of practice in working with selections for advanced Photoshop techniques.

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