How to Use the Background Eraser Tool Photoshop Tutorial
TLDRThis tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on using the Background Eraser Tool in Adobe Photoshop to remove a gray background from a photo, leaving the subject on a transparent background. The process involves unlocking the background layer, creating a new layer with a bright color for visibility, and selecting the Background Eraser Tool with appropriate settings such as 'Sampling Once' and 'Contiguous'. The tutorial emphasizes adjusting the tolerance to find the right balance for removing the background without affecting the subject's details, particularly hair. It concludes with using the standard eraser tool for final touches and demonstrates changing the background color using hue and saturation options, showcasing the flexibility of having a subject on a transparent background.
Takeaways
- 🖼️ Use the Background Eraser Tool in Photoshop to remove a gray background and isolate subjects like hair.
- 🔓 Start by unlocking the background layer and creating a new layer underneath to fill with a bright color for visibility.
- 🎨 Select a bright color for the new layer to make it easier to see which parts of the image have been successfully cut out.
- ✅ Choose the 'Sampling Once' option to ensure the tool only removes the sampled background color and not other parts of the image.
- 🔄 Adjust the brush size using the square brackets ([ and ]) for quick changes while working on the image.
- 🔍 Set the 'Tolerance' level carefully; too low and it won't remove enough background, too high and it may remove parts of the subject.
- 💻 Experiment with different tolerance levels to find the right balance for your specific image.
- 🖱️ Once the right tolerance is set, click and drag over the background to remove it, paying close attention to detail around complex areas like hair.
- 👌 Use the standard eraser tool to clean up any remaining loose ends after using the Background Eraser Tool.
- 🌈 After the background is removed, you can adjust the hue and saturation of the bright color layer to change its color.
- 🔄 With the subject on a transparent background, you have the flexibility to place it over different images or add blurred backgrounds.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the tutorial?
-The main topic of the tutorial is how to use the background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop to remove gray backgrounds effectively, particularly for images with detailed elements like hair.
Why is the background eraser tool useful for cutting out hair in a photo?
-The background eraser tool is useful for cutting out hair because it allows for precise removal of the background without affecting the intricate details of the hair strands, which would be difficult with other selection tools.
How does the tutorial suggest starting the process of removing the background?
-The tutorial suggests starting by unlocking the background layer, creating a new layer beneath it, and filling this new layer with a bright color to make it easier to see which parts of the background have been successfully cut out.
What is the purpose of adjusting the size of the brush using square brackets?
-Adjusting the size of the brush with square brackets allows for more efficient and precise control when erasing the background, making it easier to work on different areas of the image quickly.
What does 'sampling once' mean in the context of the background eraser tool?
-'Sampling once' means that the tool will only target the color that was sampled once, which is useful for removing uniform backgrounds without affecting other colors or elements in the image.
How does the 'tolerance' setting affect the background removal process?
-The 'tolerance' setting determines how strict the tool is in deciding what to remove. A low tolerance will be more precise, while a high tolerance may remove more than just the background, potentially affecting other parts of the image.
What is the recommended approach for removing the background without affecting the subject?
-The recommended approach is to start with a moderate tolerance setting, sample the gray background, and carefully erase around the subject, especially the hair, while adjusting the tolerance as needed for different parts of the image.
How can the hue and saturation options be used after removing the background?
-After removing the background, the hue and saturation options can be used to adjust the color of the bright layer that was filled in, allowing for customization of the background color or making it transparent by adjusting the lightness.
What is the advantage of having the subject on a transparent background?
-Having the subject on a transparent background provides the flexibility to layer it with other images, apply different background effects, or blend it into various compositions without the need for complex masking or selection techniques.
What is the final result of using the background eraser tool as demonstrated in the tutorial?
-The final result is a subject, in this case, a woman, effectively cut out from the original gray background and placed on a transparent background, with the ability to add any new background or effects as desired.
Outlines
🖼️ Using the Background Eraser Tool in Photoshop
This paragraph introduces viewers to the tutorial's focus on the background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop, specifically for cutting out hair from a photo. The process involves unlocking the background layer, creating a new layer, and filling it with a bright color to facilitate the visibility of the erasure process. The paragraph explains how to select and adjust the background eraser tool, emphasizing the importance of brush size, sampling settings, and tolerance levels. It also demonstrates the tool's effectiveness in removing the gray background while preserving the subject's details, particularly the hair.
🔍 Final Touches with the Standard Eraser Tool
After using the background eraser tool to remove the majority of the gray background, this paragraph explains how to use the standard eraser tool for final adjustments. It highlights the effectiveness of the background eraser tool in cutting around fine details like hair. The tutorial then shows how to adjust the hue and saturation of the bright color layer to change its color, or to remove the layer entirely to reveal the subject on a transparent background. The paragraph concludes with the option to add a photograph or blur a background behind the subject, showcasing the flexibility now available with the subject isolated on a transparent background.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Background Eraser Tool
💡Adobe Photoshop
💡Layer
💡Eraser Tool
💡Sampling
💡Tolerance
💡Contiguous
💡Protect Foreground Color
💡Transparent Background
💡Hue and Saturation
💡Zoom
Highlights
The tutorial focuses on the use of the Background Eraser Tool in Adobe Photoshop.
The tool is particularly useful for cutting out hair from a photograph.
The process involves removing a gray background and replacing it with a chosen background color.
The woman in the photo will be placed on a transparent background.
Unlocking the background layer and renaming it to 'woman' is the first step.
Creating a new layer below the 'woman' layer and filling it with a bright color aids in visibility.
The size of the eraser tool can be adjusted using the square brackets.
Selecting 'Sampling Once' ensures that only the background color is removed.
The 'Contiguous' option is used to define the area for color removal.
The 'Protect Foreground Color' option is selected to prevent erasing the main subject.
Tolerance levels need to be adjusted for effective background removal without damaging the subject.
A low tolerance level may not remove all the background, while a high tolerance level may remove parts of the subject.
The tool is effective for cutting out detailed areas like hair.
The standard eraser tool can be used to clean up any remaining unwanted areas.
Once the background is removed, the subject can be placed on a transparent background.
The hue and saturation of the new background color can be adjusted to fit the desired look.
The final result is a subject isolated on a transparent background, ready for further creative use.
The tutorial emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance in tool settings for optimal results.