Clever Trick to Cut Out an Image in Photoshop
TLDRIn this tutorial, the host demonstrates a professional technique for cutting out an image in Photoshop, specifically addressing common issues such as fringing and loss of detail. The process begins with the Quick Selection Tool and the 'Select Subject' feature to establish an initial selection. Refinement is achieved through the 'Select and Mask' work area, where the 'Refine Edge Brush' is used to clean up the selection around the leaves. To enhance the mask, the 'Black and White' view is employed to identify and correct any remaining issues. The video then addresses the 'decontaminate colors' option, which can introduce artifacts, and instead suggests adjusting feather and contrast settings. A hue and saturation adjustment layer is introduced to correct color issues on the leaf edges. The host also shares a trick for bringing back details in the leaves by loading the selection from the layer mask and creating a clipped solid color adjustment layer, which can be inverted to enhance the edges. Finally, the video shows how to change the color of the edges to match a new sky, emphasizing the importance of practice in mastering selection techniques in Photoshop.
Takeaways
- 🖼️ Use the Quick Selection Tool and 'Select Subject' to make an initial selection of the image you want to isolate.
- 🎨 Press 'Q' to better visualize the selection and identify areas that need refinement.
- 🖌️ Utilize the 'Select and Mask' with 'Overlay' view and 'Refine Edge Brush' for detailed work on complex areas like leaves.
- 🚫 Avoid using the 'Decontaminate Colors' option as it can introduce artifacts and degrade the image quality.
- 🔍 Check the mask with 'Black and White' view to ensure all desired areas are included in the selection.
- 🌈 Duplicate the layer and use a 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer to correct color fringing on the edges of the leaves.
- 🔗 Clip the adjustment layer to ensure it only affects the layer directly below it.
- 📏 Use the 'Targeting Tool' to select and adjust specific colors, like the problematic cyan, to match the surrounding area.
- ➖ Deselect and reload the layer mask to contract the selection by a pixel or two for a tighter edge.
- 🔳 Invert the layer mask and clip a 'Solid Color' adjustment layer to enhance the edges of the selection.
- 🌟 Group the refined layers and compare the result with the initial selection to appreciate the improved details and natural look.
- 🌄 Practice makes perfect: Regularly work with selections and masking to master techniques for a more realistic outcome.
Q & A
What is the main issue with the initial result after removing the background from an image in Photoshop?
-The main issue is that there is bluish fringing on the leaves, the edges of the leaves are brighter, and a lot of details are lost.
What tool in Photoshop is recommended for the first step of selecting the subject in the image?
-The Quick Selection Tool with the 'Select Subject' button is recommended for the first step.
How can you refine the selection after using the Quick Selection Tool?
-You can refine the selection by clicking on 'Select and Mask' and choosing 'Overlay', then using the 'Refine Edge Brush' to brush over areas where the sky is still visible behind the leaves.
Why should you avoid using the 'Decontaminate Colors' option when making a selection?
-Using the 'Decontaminate Colors' option can result in artifacts and a poor selection quality, making the image look like 'garbage'.
What is the purpose of adding a 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer and how does it help with the selection?
-A 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment layer is used to correct the color issues, such as the aqua color on the edges of the leaves, by shifting the hue and adjusting the saturation to match the color of the leaves.
How does reloading the selection from a layer mask affect the selection size in Photoshop?
-Reloading the selection from a layer mask contracts the selection by one or two pixels, making it a bit smaller due to the feather of the mask.
What is the trick to enhancing the edges of the original selection?
-The trick is to invert the layer mask of a solid color adjustment layer and clip it to the tree layer, which enhances the edges of the original selection.
How can you easily change the color of the edges to match a new sky in the image?
-You can double-click the solid color adjustment layer and choose a color that matches the new sky, allowing you to control the saturation and brightness quickly.
Why is it important to practice working with selections in Photoshop?
-Practicing with selections is important because it helps achieve more realistic effects, such as blurring backgrounds, which require additional work and fine-tuning.
What is the benefit of using a 50% gray layer as a background when checking for problems in the selection?
-A 50% gray layer as a background helps in identifying issues like color fringing and lost details in the selection, as it provides a neutral backdrop for easy visibility.
How does the process described in the script help in replacing the sky in an image?
-The process refines the selection of the tree, corrects color issues, and enhances the edges, allowing for a clean and realistic replacement of the sky without visible artifacts or fringing.
What is the final step recommended to view the result of the refined selection?
-The final step is to group the refined layers, rename the group to 'Pro', and compare it with the 'Beginner' method to see the significant improvement in the selection quality.
Outlines
🖼️ Advanced Photoshop Selection Techniques
This paragraph explains a professional method for removing the background from an image in Photoshop. It starts with using the Quick Selection tool and the 'Select Subject' feature. The selection is refined using 'Select and Mask' with the 'Refine Edge Brush' to remove unwanted fringing and improve detail around the edges of the leaves. The process involves checking the mask with a black and white overlay and decontaminating colors to avoid artifacts. A feather value and contrast adjustment are made, and the selection is turned into a layer mask. A duplicate layer is created for further refinement, and a solid color adjustment layer is used to check the background. The paragraph concludes with the solution to remove unwanted aqua color on the edges using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
🌴 Enhancing Details and Changing Background Colors
The second paragraph describes how to enhance the details of a selection and change the background color in Photoshop. It begins with deselecting the current selection and reloading it to contract the selection slightly, which helps to refine the edges. A solid color adjustment layer is created and clipped to the layer below, then inverted to enhance the edges. The process shows a comparison between a beginner's method and a pro method, highlighting the improved details and natural look achieved with the pro method. The video also demonstrates how to change the color of the edges to match a new sky by double-clicking the solid color adjustment layer and selecting a color from the environment. The presenter, Kristy, encourages practice with selections and mentions another video on blurring backgrounds in Photoshop.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Background Removal
💡Fringing
💡Quick Selection Tool
💡Select Subject
💡Refine Edge Brush
💡Masking
💡Decontaminate Colors
💡Feather
💡Contrast
💡Hue/Saturation Adjustment
💡Clipping Mask
💡Detail Enhancement
Highlights
A clever trick to remove the background from an image in Photoshop is demonstrated, resulting in a clean cutout without fringing or loss of detail.
The use of the Quick Selection Tool and 'Select Subject' button is introduced as the first step for making an initial selection.
Refining the selection is crucial and is done using 'Select and Mask' with the 'Overlay' view and 'Refine Edge Brush'.
Avoid brushing over areas without sky in the background to simplify the masking process and improve the final mask.
Checking the mask with a black and white view helps identify areas that need to be included in the selection.
Disabling the 'Decontaminate Colors' option prevents unwanted artifacts and maintains a more natural look.
Adding a 'Feather' and adjusting 'Contrast' enhances the selection before creating a layer mask.
Duplicating the layer and using a solid color adjustment layer can help identify and solve color issues on the edges of the leaves.
Clipping a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to the problem layer allows for color correction of the fringing.
Shifting the hue and reducing saturation can make the edges of the leaves match their natural color, solving the fringing issue.
Reloading the selection from a layer mask contracts the selection by one or two pixels, useful for enhancing details.
Inverting a solid color adjustment layer's mask enhances the edges of the original selection for a more detailed cutout.
Grouping layers and renaming them helps organize the process and compare the 'beginner' and 'pro' methods visually.
The ability to change the color of the edges easily by double-clicking the solid color adjustment layer is a powerful feature for matching new environments.
Practicing with selections is key for achieving realistic effects, such as blurring backgrounds in Photoshop.
The presenter, Kristy, encourages viewers to subscribe for more tricks like this in the future.
Two different sunset skies are imported to test the final result, showcasing the adaptability of the technique.
The flexibility to control the saturation and brightness of the edges quickly is highlighted as a significant advantage of this method.