4 Ways To Remove Backgrounds In Photoshop For Beginners
TLDRIn this tutorial, Brandon from bewellcreative.com teaches beginners four straightforward methods to remove backgrounds in Photoshop. The first method involves using the Quick Selection or Magic Wand tool with the 'Select Subject' feature, which automatically creates a selection and applies a layer mask to hide the background. The second technique uses the Magic Wand tool to select and remove areas of a uniform color, like a sky, by adjusting the sample size and tolerance. The third method employs the Object Selection tool, which can define a specific area and find edges to create a selection, with an AI feature to select multiple objects. The final method, Select Color Range, is ideal for backgrounds of a single color and complex subjects, like curly hair, by sampling colors and inverting the selection. Brandon also covers refining selections with Select and Mask and using the Brush tool for touch-ups. The tutorial aims to provide solid understanding without complex jargon.
Takeaways
- 🎨 **Simple Button Method**: Beginners can remove backgrounds by clicking the 'Remove Background' button in the Properties panel or using the 'Select Subject' option with selection tools.
- 🔒 **Unlocking Layers**: Ensure the layer is unlocked before attempting to remove the background to make changes.
- 🖼️ **Layer Masks**: Photoshop uses layer masks to hide and reveal parts of the image, with black representing transparency and white representing full visibility.
- 🔍 **Magic Wand Tool**: This tool is useful for selecting areas of similar color, with settings like Sample Size and Tolerance affecting the selection range.
- 🌟 **Anti-alias and Contiguous**: These options in the Magic Wand tool help smooth the edges of selections and ensure only contiguous (touching) pixels are selected.
- 🔄 **Inverting Selections**: Invert the selection when the background is the primary color and the subject needs to be isolated.
- 📐 **Object Selection Tool**: Allows for more precise selection by defining an area and letting Photoshop find edges within that area.
- 🧑💻 **AI Object Finder**: A feature within the Object Selection tool that uses AI to identify and select multiple objects in a photo.
- 💡 **Select and Mask**: A workspace for refining selections, especially useful for complex areas like hair, by painting and using the refine edge brush.
- 🌈 **Color Range Selection**: A technique for backgrounds of a single color, allowing for sampling colors to create a selection, which can then be inverted to isolate the subject.
- ✅ **Combining Techniques**: For complicated subjects, use a combination of the Color Range tool for the background and quick selection tools for fine-tuning the subject.
Q & A
What are the two methods mentioned in the video to remove backgrounds in Photoshop using a simple button?
-The two methods are using the 'Remove Background' or 'Select Subject' button in the Properties panel, and using the 'Select Subject' button in the options bar when a selection tool is active.
How does the layer mask work in Photoshop when removing backgrounds?
-A layer mask in Photoshop hides certain areas of a photo. Black areas on the layer mask are 100% transparent, and white areas are 100% visible. When removing a background, the subject remains white and thus visible, while the background is hidden.
What is the Magic Wand tool in Photoshop and how does it help in removing backgrounds?
-The Magic Wand tool is used to select areas of a similar color in an image. It can turn a single clicked color into a selection, which is useful for removing backgrounds that are of a uniform color.
What are the two most important options to check when using the Magic Wand tool?
-The two most important options to check are 'Anti-alias', which smooths the edges of the selection, and 'Contiguous', which ensures that only pixels that are touching are selected.
How does the Object Selection tool work in Photoshop?
-The Object Selection tool allows you to define a specific area using either a lasso or a marquee selection. Photoshop then tries to find edges within that area to create a selection. It can also utilize AI to select multiple objects within a photo.
What is the 'Select and Mask' workspace used for in Photoshop?
-The 'Select and Mask' workspace is used to refine selections, particularly useful for complex areas such as hair. It provides tools to adjust the selection, such as the 'Refine Hair' button and the 'Refine Edge Brush'.
What is the 'Select Color Range' method and when is it most effective?
-The 'Select Color Range' method allows you to select by color range. It is most effective when the background is of a simple, uniform color and the subject has a lot of detail or complexity, such as curly hair.
How can the 'Select Subject' feature be used to refine a selection after using 'Select Color Range'?
-After using 'Select Color Range' to get a clean selection around complex areas, you can use the 'Select Subject' feature to quickly refine the rest of the selection. You can then use a brush tool to paint over areas you want to reveal without affecting the edges.
Why might the 'Select Subject' feature not always make an accurate selection?
-The 'Select Subject' feature might not always make an accurate selection because it may not recognize complex shapes or details within the photo, especially if the subject's edges are intricate or the image contains multiple colors.
What is the advantage of using a layer mask over directly deleting the background?
-Using a layer mask to hide the background allows for non-destructive editing. This means you can easily adjust or remove the mask if you need to revert changes or make edits to the selection without affecting the original image.
What are some limitations of the simple button method for removing backgrounds?
-The simple button method may not work well for images with complex backgrounds or subjects with intricate details. It is best suited for images with clear distinctions between the subject and the background.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to Background Removal Techniques in Photoshop
In this introductory paragraph, Brandon from bewellcreative.com outlines four easy methods to remove backgrounds in Photoshop, suitable for beginners. He emphasizes that some techniques are as simple as clicking a button but also acknowledges their limitations. The paragraph sets the stage for a step-by-step guide on using the 'Remove Background' button, selection tools, and other manual methods to achieve professional-looking results without the complexity.
🛠️ Using the 'Remove Background' Button and Selection Tools
This paragraph explains how to use the 'Remove Background' button in the Properties panel and the selection tools like the Object Selection Tool, Quick Selection Tool, and Magic Wand Tool. It details the process of selecting a layer, unlocking it, and using the Quick Actions option to remove the background with a layer mask. The Magic Wand Tool is introduced for creating selections based on color, with settings like Sample Size, Tolerance, Anti-alias, and Contiguous explained. The paragraph also covers how to refine selections and use the Select Subject feature for more accurate results.
🎨 Advanced Selection Techniques and Color Range Selection
The final paragraph discusses advanced selection techniques, particularly the use of the Object Selection Tool with AI for easier subject selection and the Select and Mask workspace for refining selections, especially around complex areas like hair. It also introduces the Select Color Range method, which is ideal for backgrounds of a single color and complex subjects. The paragraph concludes with a summary of the different techniques covered and an invitation for viewers to request more advanced tutorials on topics like realistic hair cutting in Photoshop.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Photoshop
💡Layer Mask
💡Select Subject
💡Magic Wand Tool
💡Object Selection Tool
💡Color Range
💡Layer
💡Quick Selection Tool
💡Select and Mask
💡Contiguous
💡Sample Size
Highlights
Learn four easy ways to remove backgrounds in Photoshop for beginners.
Simple one-click technique to remove backgrounds using the 'Remove Background' button.
Unlocking layers and using the Properties panel for background removal.
Understanding layer masks for hiding and showing areas in a photo.
Alternative method of using selection tools like the Magic Wand for more control.
The Magic Wand tool's effectiveness in selecting colors and turning them into selections.
Importance of sample size and tolerance settings in the Magic Wand tool.
Using Anti-alias and Contiguous options for smoother and more precise selections.
Inverting selections to remove backgrounds without affecting the main subject.
Object Selection Tool for easier and more accurate selection of subjects.
AI integration in the Object Selection Tool for automatically finding and selecting objects.
Using 'Select and Mask' for refining selections, especially around complex areas like hair.
Technique to deal with complicated selections like curly hair using a simple background.
Select Color Range method for selecting by color and refining selections.
Combining Select Color Range with Select Subject for complex background removal.
Brush tool technique to touch up selections without worrying about edges.
Tips for creating precise and accurate selections in Photoshop for professional results.
Explore more advanced techniques for background removal in a more complicated way.