The EASY Background Remover Hidden in Photoshop!
TLDRThe video tutorial reveals a lesser-known tool within Photoshop that simplifies the process of background removal. The tool, aptly named the 'Background Eraser,' allows users to erase backgrounds with a high degree of accuracy, even in complex areas like hair. The tutorial explains the tool's operation, including how to select the background color and the brush settings for optimal results. However, it also addresses the tool's main drawback: its destructive nature, which means that once the background is erased, it cannot be recovered without using masks. To overcome this, the video demonstrates how to make the background removal process non-destructive by using layer masks. The host guides viewers through adjusting settings such as sampling, limits, and tolerance to fine-tune the tool's performance for different parts of an image. The video concludes with a recap of the tool's capabilities and a reminder that different techniques have their own merits depending on the specific image and task at hand.
Takeaways
- 🎨 **Photoshop Tool Discovery**: There's a hidden tool in Photoshop for background removal that is powerful, customizable, and easy to use.
- 🚫 **Drawback Identified**: The tool works destructively, meaning it doesn't allow for non-destructive editing which is a significant limitation.
- 🖌️ **How It Works**: You tell Photoshop the background color and then paint over it; Photoshop analyzes and removes the background.
- 🔄 **Sampling Options**: There are different sampling modes - continuous, one time, and background swatch - with the one-time sampling being the preferred method.
- ⛓ **Limit Settings**: The limit settings determine how the tool behaves when painting over different colors, with options like contiguous and discontiguous.
- 🔍 **Finding Edges**: The 'find edges' option helps Photoshop detect and maintain sharp edges, but it may not always work as expected.
- 🌈 **Tolerance Levels**: Tolerance determines the range of colors affected; a higher tolerance means more colors are included in the removal.
- 📉 **Non-Destructive Editing**: To make the tool non-destructive, duplicate the layer, remove the background on the copy, and use a layer mask to reveal the original image.
- 🔧 **Fine-Tuning with Masks**: After applying the mask, you can fine-tune the edges, use blending modes, and even blur the mask for a smoother look.
- 🧩 **Technique Comparison**: The background eraser tool is not necessarily better than other selection tools; it depends on the specific needs of the image and the user's situation.
- ⭐ **Recap and Thanks**: The video concludes with a recap of the tool's features and a thank you to the viewers and supporters of the channel.
Q & A
What is the name of the tool in Photoshop that allows for easy background removal?
-The tool is called the 'Background Eraser Tool'.
What is the major drawback of using the Background Eraser Tool?
-The major drawback is that it works destructively, meaning you cannot work non-destructively with it and once the background is removed, you cannot get it back without using a mask.
How can you make the Background Eraser Tool non-destructive?
-You can make it non-destructive by creating a copy of the background layer and using a layer mask to erase the background instead of directly painting on the layer.
What are the different sampling options available in the Background Eraser Tool?
-The sampling options include Continuous, Once, and Background Swatch.
What does the 'Continuous' sampling option do?
-The 'Continuous' sampling option continuously samples the color from the area under the crosshair as you paint.
How does the 'Once' sampling option differ from 'Continuous'?
-The 'Once' sampling option takes a sample from the area under the crosshair only once when you start painting and does not continuously sample as you paint.
What are the different limit options in the Background Eraser Tool and what do they do?
-The limit options are 'Contiguous', 'Discontiguous', and 'Find Edges'. 'Contiguous' removes colors that are physically attached to the area you are painting in, 'Discontiguous' removes colors across different areas, and 'Find Edges' tries to detect and maintain edges more accurately.
What is the purpose of the 'Tolerance' setting in the Background Eraser Tool?
-The 'Tolerance' setting determines the range of colors that are affected by the tool. A higher tolerance means more colors will be included in the removal process.
How can you adjust the tolerance to best suit your image?
-You should start with a low tolerance and gradually increase it until it works effectively for your image without affecting unwanted areas.
What blend mode can be used for fine-tuning the edges when using a layer mask?
-The 'Overlay' blend mode can be used for fine-tuning the edges, with a reduced flow rate for more precise control.
How can you restore accidentally erased areas when using a layer mask?
-You can switch the foreground color to white, use the 'Overlay' blend mode, and paint over the areas you want to restore.
What are the advantages of using a layer mask over directly painting with the Background Eraser Tool?
-A layer mask allows for non-destructive editing, giving you the flexibility to modify the mask in various ways, such as blurring or smoothing, without permanently altering the original image.
Outlines
🎨 Introduction to the Background Eraser Tool in Photoshop
The first paragraph introduces a powerful yet underutilized tool in Photoshop for erasing backgrounds. The speaker discusses its impressive accuracy and ease of use, while also mentioning a significant drawback that will be addressed later in the tutorial. The audience is encouraged to download example photos and learn where to find the tool within Photoshop's interface. The tool is located under the eraser tool group and is used by copying the background layer for backup and then painting over the background on a new layer to remove it. The paragraph concludes with a teaser about making the tool non-destructive.
🖌️ Exploring the Background Eraser Tool's Settings and Capabilities
This paragraph delves into the various settings of the Background Eraser tool, discussing how they affect the sampling of colors and the precision of the erasure. It explains the difference between continuous sampling, one-time sampling, and background sampling. The limits setting is also explored, which dictates whether the tool will erase colors that are discontiguous or only those that are contiguous. The paragraph uses visual examples to illustrate the concepts and ends with a discussion on tolerance levels and how they determine the range of colors selected for erasure.
🔍 Refining the Background Erasure Process
The third paragraph focuses on the practical application of the tool, emphasizing the importance of starting with the right settings for different areas of an image, such as hair and body edges. It discusses the need to adjust tolerance levels to achieve the best results without affecting unwanted areas like hair. The paragraph also introduces the concept of making the erasure process non-destructive by using layer masks, allowing for greater flexibility and control over the final image.
📘 Non-Destructive Editing and Final Touches
The final paragraph explains how to convert the destructive background erasure into a non-destructive process using layer masks. It guides through the steps of copying the original image layer, creating a selection, and applying a mask to the copy for refined control. The paragraph also covers techniques for fine-tuning the mask, including blurring and smoothing, and emphasizes the flexibility of non-destructive editing. The video concludes with a recap of the tool's features and a reminder to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for future content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Background Eraser Tool
💡Solid Color Adjustment Layer
💡Sampling
💡Limits
💡Tolerance
💡Non-Destructive Editing
💡Layer Mask
💡Blend Modes
💡Flow Rate
💡Blur Tool
💡Ctrl/Cmd + Click
Highlights
Photoshop has a hidden tool that allows for easy background removal without using selections or masks.
The tool is highly customizable and can be surprisingly accurate for background erasure.
There is a major drawback to the tool, which is its destructive nature.
The tool works by sampling the background color and removing it as you paint.
Continuous sampling is one of the settings that allows for ongoing color analysis as you paint.
One-time sampling takes a single color sample and applies it until the brush is lifted.
Background sampling uses the color from the background swatch for erasure.
Limit settings can restrict where you can paint, with options like contiguous and discontiguous.
Find edges is a limit setting that helps Photoshop detect and maintain sharp edges.
Tolerance determines the range of colors affected by the tool; higher tolerance includes more colors.
To avoid removing unwanted areas, start with a low tolerance and increase until the background removal works correctly.
Making the process non-destructive involves creating a copy of the layer and using a mask to refine the erasure.
The non-destructive method allows for easy modification and refinement of the mask without losing the original image.
The blend mode overlay can be used for fine-tuning the mask, especially in critical areas.
Accidentally erased areas can be restored by changing the foreground color to white and painting over them.
The background eraser tool is a powerful feature in Photoshop for those who master its settings and techniques.
Each technique in Photoshop has its own place, and the background eraser is no exception.
A quick recap of the tool's features and how to use them effectively is provided at the end of the tutorial.