The 4 Best Ways To Cut Out And Remove Backgrounds In Photoshop

Brendan Williams
4 Jan 202119:23

TLDRIn this tutorial, learn about four powerful tools in Photoshop for cutting out images and removing backgrounds. Discover the Quick Selection Tool for fast selections, the Pen Tool for precise paths, the Select Color Range for single-color backgrounds, and the Channels method for intricate details like hair. Each technique has its advantages, and combining them can lead to perfect cutouts.

Takeaways

  • {"🖌️":"The Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop is great for quickly cutting out images with simple selection processes."}
  • {"✒️":"The Pen Tool allows for precise and custom selections, especially useful for complex edges or when a high level of detail is required."}
  • {"🎨":"The Select Color Range option is ideal for selecting a specific color to isolate and remove from an image, such as a solid color background."}
  • {"📏":"Channels can be used to cut out complex edges like hair, by duplicating a color channel and adjusting its contrast to create a selection."}
  • {"🖋️":"Brush Tool with Overlay blending mode can help refine selections by painting over gray areas to mask them out without affecting the black areas."}
  • {"🔄":"Inverting the selection in the Color Range dialog box can save time by avoiding the need for later adjustments on the layer mask."}
  • {"🔍":"When using the Pen Tool, adding anchor points and adjusting control arms allows for curving the path to match the edge of the subject precisely."}
  • {"📌":"The Quick Selection Tool can automatically snap to edges based on color similarity and contrast in the photo."}
  • {"🖇️":"Layer masks are used to apply selections non-destructively, allowing for easy editing and refinement of the cutout."}
  • {"🌄":"For images with high contrast between the subject and background, channels can provide a clear path to separate the two."}
  • {"🎭":"Combining different selection tools can help create perfect selections, with each tool having its own advantages and ideal use cases."}

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The video is about the best tools to cut out images and remove backgrounds in Photoshop.

  • Who is the presenter of the tutorial?

    -The presenter is Brandon from bewildcreative.com.

  • What is the first tool mentioned for cutting out images in Photoshop?

    -The first tool mentioned is the Quick Selection Tool.

  • How does the Quick Selection Tool work?

    -The Quick Selection Tool works like a brush tool that paints the selection rather than a color. It automatically snaps to edges based on color similarity and contrast in the photo.

  • What is the second tool discussed for making refined selections?

    -The second tool discussed is the Pen Tool, which is perfect for making custom and refined selections around an edge.

  • How can the Pen Tool be used to create a selection?

    -The Pen Tool creates selections by adding anchor points and forming a path between them. The path can be adjusted by manipulating the control arms to create curves and straight lines as needed.

  • What is the Select Color Range option used for?

    -The Select Color Range option is used to select a certain color and turn that into a selection based on that one color, which is useful for cutting out images with solid colored backgrounds.

  • What is the advantage of using the Select Color Range option?

    -The advantage of using the Select Color Range option is that it simplifies the selection process when working with images that have a solid background color, allowing for quick and easy background removal.

  • How can the Channels option help with cutting out complicated edges like hair?

    -The Channels option can help with cutting out complicated edges like hair by identifying the channel with the most contrast between the subject and the background, and then using that contrast to create a selection.

  • What blending mode can be used with the Brush Tool to refine edges without affecting the black areas?

    -The Overlay blending mode can be used with the Brush Tool to refine edges without affecting the black areas.

  • What is the final step to cut out an image after making a selection?

    -The final step is to click on the Layer Mask icon to apply the selection to a layer mask, and then invert the mask if necessary to complete the cutout.

  • What does Brandon recommend for viewers interested in more tutorials on photo editing?

    -Brandon recommends subscribing to his channel and checking out his other tutorials, including one on the easiest ways to make selections in Photoshop.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Cutting Out Images in Photoshop

In the first paragraph, Brandon from Bewildcreative.com introduces the topic of the video, which is about learning the best tools to cut out images in Photoshop. He encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for more photography and photo editing content. The focus is on removing backgrounds and cutting out images, with an emphasis on four particularly useful tools. Brandon also mentions that they will demonstrate how to use these tools together for a refined selection and perfect cutout.

05:00

🖌️ Using the Quick Selection Tool and Pen Tool

The second paragraph explains how to use the Quick Selection Tool and the Pen Tool in Photoshop for cutting out images. The Quick Selection Tool works similarly to a brush, painting selections rather than color. It's useful for quickly selecting areas of an image based on color similarity or contrast. If the selection isn't perfect, the tool allows for refinement by holding the Alt/Option key to subtract from the selection. The Pen Tool is introduced for making custom and refined selections, especially useful for detailed edges or busy backgrounds. It involves creating a path by clicking to add anchor points and then adjusting the path for curvature. The paragraph concludes with how to convert the path into a selection and apply it using a layer mask.

10:01

🎨 Selecting by Color Range and Using Channels for Complex Edges

The third paragraph covers the Select Color Range option, which is ideal for selecting a specific color and turning it into a selection. This tool is particularly useful for images with solid color backgrounds. The process involves selecting the color to sample, adjusting the selection, and then inverting it if necessary. The paragraph also introduces using Channels to cut out complicated edges, such as hair, by duplicating a channel with high contrast between the subject and the background and then adjusting the levels for a clearer selection.

15:02

✅ Final Touches and Combining Tools for Perfect Selections

In the final paragraph, Brandon discusses refining selections around complex areas like hair using the Channels method. He explains how to paint over gray areas to ensure they are fully selected and how to use blending modes to clean up edges. The paragraph also covers how to convert the channel selection into an active selection and apply a layer mask to cut out the image. Brandon then demonstrates how to use the Quick Selection Tool to refine the edges around the shoulders and how to fix any transparent spots by painting with a white brush. The video concludes with Brandon summarizing the four tools and encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and check out additional tutorials for more selection techniques.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used software for image editing, created by Adobe. It offers a variety of tools that allow users to manipulate digital images, including cutting out and removing backgrounds, which is the main focus of the video. In the context of the video, it is the platform where all the discussed techniques are applied.

💡Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop is used for making selections by 'painting' over the area of an image that the user wants to cut out. It is described in the video as a simple and efficient way to select areas of similar color or high contrast. It is used in the script when Brandon selects the sky in the example image.

💡Layer Mask

A Layer Mask in Photoshop is a feature that allows non-destructive editing by hiding or showing parts of a layer. In the video, after making a selection with the Quick Selection Tool, the presenter uses a layer mask to cut out the image, which is then inverted to achieve the desired result.

💡Pen Tool

The Pen Tool is a more precise selection tool used in Photoshop for creating paths that can be converted into selections. It is ideal for making custom and refined selections around complex edges. In the video, the Pen Tool is demonstrated for cutting out a building, where precise selection is crucial.

💡Anchor Points

Anchor Points are used with the Pen Tool to create paths in Photoshop. They are points where the user clicks to define the start and end of a path. The video explains how to use anchor points to create a selection around an object, such as a building, by connecting them with lines to form a path.

💡Select Color Range

The Select Color Range option in Photoshop is a tool that allows users to select a specific color in an image and convert that into a selection. This is particularly useful when the background is a solid color, as demonstrated in the video with the blue sky and palm trees example.

💡null

💡Channels

Channels in Photoshop refer to the individual color components of an image, such as red, green, and blue. The video discusses using channels to cut out complex edges like hair, by finding the channel with the highest contrast between the subject and the background and then refining the selection.

💡Invert Selection

Inverting a selection in Photoshop means to select the opposite of the current selection. In the context of the video, after making a selection of the background using the Select Color Range tool, the presenter inverts the selection so that the palm trees are selected instead.

💡Fuzziness

Fuzziness in the context of the video refers to the tolerance level set when using the Select Color Range tool. It determines how similar colors are included in the selection. The presenter mentions adjusting fuzziness to remove fringing and to soften the edges of the selection for a more realistic look.

💡Blending Mode

Blending modes in Photoshop determine how layers interact with each other. The video mentions changing the brush tool's blending mode to Overlay, which allows the user to affect only the gray areas when refining the edge of a selection, without altering the black areas.

💡Non-Destructive Editing

Non-destructive editing is a technique that allows users to make changes to an image without permanently altering the original pixels. In the video, using layer masks to cut out images is an example of non-destructive editing, as it allows for easy adjustments and maintains the original image data.

Highlights

Learn about the four best tools to cut out images in Photoshop.

Quick Selection Tool is a popular tool for quickly cutting out images.

The Quick Selection Tool automatically snaps to edges based on color contrast.

Refine edges by holding Alt/Option and painting over unwanted areas.

Use Layer Mask to apply selection non-destructively after refining.

Pen Tool is ideal for making custom and refined selections around edges.

Create anchor points and paths with the Pen Tool for precise selection.

Adjust control arms for curving lines in the Pen Tool selection.

Select Color Range option is useful for selecting by color and removing backgrounds.

Use Select Color Range for solid color backgrounds in studio shots.

Channels are perfect for cutting out complicated edges like hair.

Duplicate and adjust levels of a color channel to increase contrast for selection.

Paint over gray areas with a brush to refine selections.

Invert selection and use a Layer Mask to cut out images.

Combine Quick Selection and Channels for perfect selections around complex subjects.

Use brush tool in Overlay mode to refine edges without affecting black areas.

Check layer mask for any transparent spots and paint over them to fix.

Brandon from Bewellcreative.com shares his favorite tools for photo editing in Photoshop.

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