How To Remove a Background In Photoshop [For Beginners]
TLDRIn this beginner-friendly tutorial, Jesรบs Ramirez shares professional techniques for background removal in Photoshop, tailored for movie and TV posters. The process is broken down into three steps: selecting the main subject using the Select and Mask tool, refining hard edges with global refinement sliders, and addressing intricate details like hair using the Refine Edge brush tool. The video also addresses common issues such as incomplete masks, color casts, and provides solutions like using a custom brush for complex edges. Ramirez emphasizes the importance of a layer mask for non-destructive editing and offers professional brushes for download to enhance the selection process. The tutorial concludes with exporting the image as a PNG to preserve transparency.
Takeaways
- ๐จ **Select the Main Subject**: Use the 'Select and Mask' workspace for precise selections and masks, avoiding distractions from the full Photoshop interface.
- ๐ **Quick Selection Tool**: This tool automatically finds edges and expands the selection to match, useful for specific objects like clothing.
- ๐ **Adobe Cloud Processing**: For better selection quality, use the Cloud option in 'Select Subject' which sends the image to Adobe for processing, but requires an internet connection.
- ๐ **Manual Refinements**: After automatic selection, manually add missing areas with the Quick Selection or Brush tool for more accurate edges.
- ๐ **Refine Hard Edges**: Utilize the Global Refinement sliders to smooth and sharpen the edges of the selection.
- ๐ง **Object Selection Tool**: For images with multiple subjects, use this tool along with 'Object Finder' to isolate and select a single subject.
- ๐งน **Refine Hair and Intricate Details**: Separate the selection of hair or intricate details from the main body for better results, using the 'Refine Edge brush tool'.
- ๐ญ **Layer Mask for Non-Destructive Editing**: Use a layer mask to hide areas in a non-destructive manner, allowing for flexibility in editing.
- ๐ **Fixing Common Issues**: Address incomplete masks or over masking by painting with black or white on the mask to hide or reveal areas.
- ๐งน **Custom Brushes for Complex Edges**: Use custom brushes to paint back in complex edges like flyaway hair, providing a more realistic result than selection or mask alone.
- ๐ **Remove Color Casts**: If a color from the background reflects onto the subject, use a clipping mask with a 'Color' blending mode and paint to remove the spill.
Q & A
What is the main focus of this Photoshop tutorial?
-The tutorial focuses on professional techniques for removing backgrounds in Photoshop, specifically for beginners. It emphasizes precise edges and maintaining editing flexibility.
Why does Jesรบs Ramirez prefer using 'Select and Mask' over the 'Remove background' button?
-Jesรบs Ramirez prefers 'Select and Mask' because it provides a workspace tailored for creating precise selections and masks, with more control and fewer distractions compared to the entire Photoshop interface.
What is the Cloud option in the Select Subject tool?
-The Cloud option sends the image to Adobe's service to process it and generate a better selection. It requires an internet connection and is said to provide better selection quality.
How can you temporarily activate the Subtract button in the Select and Mask workspace?
-You can temporarily activate the Subtract button by holding the Alt key on Windows or Option key on Mac while dragging to remove areas from the selection.
What is the purpose of using a layer mask when removing the background?
-A layer mask is a non-destructive way of hiding areas in an image. It allows for the hiding of parts of the image without deleting them, which is crucial for professional editing as it provides the flexibility to revert changes.
How does the Refine Edge brush tool work?
-The Refine Edge brush tool uses Photoshop's edge detection algorithms to capture fine details that standard selection tools might miss. It analyzes the content as you brush along the edges, differentiating between the foreground and background.
What is the advantage of using the Object Selection tool with Object Finder?
-The Object Selection tool with Object Finder allows you to select specific subjects within a photo when there are multiple subjects. It processes the image on your device and helps in creating a precise selection of the desired subject.
How can you fix incomplete masks or over masking issues in a selection?
-To fix these issues, you can use the Brush tool on the mask. Painting with black hides the remains of the background, and painting with white reveals any hidden areas of the subject.
What is the purpose of the Minimum filter in Photoshop?
-The Minimum filter is used to contract the mask, which can help in reducing or eliminating strong outlines around the main subject after masking.
How can you remove a color cast that reflects onto the subject from the background?
-To remove a color cast, create a new layer above the main subject and use a clipping mask. Then change the blending mode to Color and use the Brush tool to paint away the color spill.
What is the final step suggested for exporting the image after background removal?
-The final step is to export the image as a PNG file to preserve the transparency of the removed background.
Outlines
๐จ Photoshop Background Removal Techniques
This paragraph introduces the viewer to professional techniques used by Jesรบs Ramirez for removing backgrounds in Photoshop, specifically for movie and TV posters. The focus is on achieving precise edges and maintaining editing flexibility. The tutorial is structured into a three-step formula, with an emphasis on delivering the information in a clear and digestible manner. The first step involves selecting the main subject using the Select and Mask tool for greater control and precision, as opposed to the Remove Background button. The paragraph also discusses the use of the Cloud option for better selections, the Object Selection tool for multiple subjects, and the importance of subscribing for more content.
๐ Refining Edges and Selecting Hair in Photoshop
The second paragraph delves into refining the edges of the selection and addressing the intricacies of selecting hair or similar details. It explains how to switch to Black and White view for better visibility of the selection edges and use Global Refinement sliders to smooth and sharpen the edges. The paragraph also covers the use of the Shift Edge Slider to adjust the selection to reduce halos. The main subject's hair is treated separately due to its fine details, and the Refine Edge brush tool is introduced for capturing these details. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to subscribe and the transition to addressing common issues in background removal.
๐๏ธ Advanced Masking and Color Correction in Photoshop
The third paragraph provides solutions to common issues such as incomplete masks or over masking. It demonstrates how to use the Brush tool to fix these issues by painting on the mask with black to hide unwanted areas and white to reveal hidden parts. The paragraph also introduces custom brushes for painting details like flyaway hair and fuzzy edges, which can be more effective than traditional selection tools. Additionally, it covers techniques for dealing with varying degrees of blurriness, using the Blur tool and Minimum filter for more natural-looking edges. The paragraph concludes with instructions on how to fix color casts using a clipping mask and color blending mode, and a reminder to like and subscribe for more tutorials.
๐ Final Touches and Exporting the Image
The final paragraph discusses the final steps after the background has been removed in Photoshop. It covers how to correct any remaining color issues and export the image with transparency by saving it as a PNG. The paragraph emphasizes the subtle yet significant impact of the adjustments made and encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more educational content.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กPhotoshop
๐กSelect and Mask
๐กQuick Selection Tool
๐กSelect Subject
๐กLayer Mask
๐กRefine Edge Brush Tool
๐กGlobal Refinement Sliders
๐กObject Selection Tool
๐กColor Cast
๐กPNG
๐กCustom Brushes
Highlights
Photoshop tutorials can be challenging, but this one breaks down professional techniques into a three-step formula for beginners.
Selecting the main subject is the first step, using either the Remove Background button or the Select and Mask option for precision.
The Select and Mask workspace offers more control and better results by minimizing distractions.
Quick Selection Tool and Select Subject button are introduced for different selection needs.
Cloud option in Select Subject sends the image to Adobe for better selection but requires an internet connection.
Manual adjustments are necessary for areas the automatic selection might miss.
Refine hard edges before tackling intricate details like hair.
Global Refinement sliders like Smooth and Contrast help in enhancing the selection edges.
Shift Edge Slider can be used to adjust the selection to reduce edge halos.
Layer Mask is a non-destructive method to hide and reveal parts of an image.
Refine Edge brush tool is ideal for capturing fine details like hair.
Artificial intelligence with the Refine Hair button can assist in locating and adjusting hair.
Manual adjustments are often superior for fine details over AI-based selections.
Incomplete masks or over masking issues can be fixed with the Brush tool and Color Picker.
Custom brushes can be used to paint back details that are difficult to select, such as flyaway hair.
Blur tool can match the mask edges to the varying blurriness in the original photo.
Minimum filter can be used to contract the mask and remove strong outlines around the subject.
Color cast issues from colored backgrounds can be fixed with a clipping mask and color blending mode.
Exporting the image as a PNG preserves the transparency of the removed background.