Two POWERFUL Photoshop Cut Out Techniques - Difficult Selections Made FAST and EASY

Photoshop Training Channel
27 Aug 201810:35

TLDRIn this tutorial from The Photoshop Training Channel, Jesus Ramirez teaches two powerful techniques for cutting out objects, such as trees, in Photoshop. The first method involves using the Blend If options to hide pixels based on the luminosity of the layer, effectively removing the background without actually creating transparency. The second technique uses the Channels panel to make a selection based on the contrast between the foreground and background, allowing for a detailed and precise cut out. Ramirez demonstrates how to adjust levels, use the dodge and burn tools, and invert colors to create a solid black and white image for a clean selection. Both methods are applicable to a variety of selection tasks beyond just trees, providing viewers with versatile tools for photo editing.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Learn two powerful Photoshop methods to cut out objects like trees, which can also be applied to other subjects.
  • 🔍 Discover the Blend If options to hide or show pixels based on the luminosity or specific color channels.
  • 👉 Use the blue channel for its strong contrast between the sky and tree, making it easier to select and cut out the tree.
  • 📉 Adjust the 'This Layer' control to hide unwanted pixels and create a smoother transition for a more natural look.
  • ✨ Convert a layer to a Smart Object to truly reveal transparency and allow for non-destructive editing.
  • 🎨 Edit the transparency by opening the Smart Object and adjusting the Blend If settings within.
  • 📸 Utilize the Channels panel to make complex selections with high contrast between the foreground and background.
  • 🖌 Employ various techniques like levels adjustment, filling with color, Apply Image, dodge and burn tools to refine the channel for selection.
  • ⚫️ Invert colors in the channel to select the desired subject (tree) and deselect the background (sky).
  • 🌄 Create a layer mask to isolate the selected tree, allowing for creative effects like adding a sunset overlay.
  • 🛠️ Use adjustment layers, such as curves, to further enhance the image and create a specific mood or effect.

Q & A

  • What are the two powerful techniques for cutting out objects like trees in Photoshop discussed in the video?

    -The two powerful techniques discussed in the video are using the Blend If options and utilizing the Channels panel for making complicated selections.

  • How does the Blend If option in Photoshop help in cutting out objects?

    -The Blend If option allows you to use the luminosity of the layer or select different channels to show or hide pixels, which can be used to hide parts of the image, like the sky, to cut out objects such as trees.

  • What is a unique trick mentioned in the video to create transparency after using the Blend If technique?

    -The unique trick mentioned is to right-click on the layer, select 'convert to Smart Object', which then allows you to see and work with transparency in the layer thumbnail.

  • How can the Channels panel be used to make complicated selections in Photoshop?

    -The Channels panel can be used to identify the channel with the most contrast between the foreground and background. By duplicating this channel and adjusting it to solid black and white, you can create a selection based on the bright pixels.

  • What are some methods to make the darker pixels darker and the brighter pixels brighter in the duplicated channel?

    -Some methods include using Image > Adjustments > Levels, making a selection and filling with a solid color, using the Apply Image command with blending modes like Screen or Multiply, and using the Dodge and Burn tools to adjust highlights and shadows.

  • How can you invert the selection in the Channels panel to select the tree instead of the sky?

    -You can invert the selection by pressing Ctrl+I (Command+I on Mac), which will switch the colors so that the tree, which was previously not selected, becomes selected and the sky, which was selected, is now not selected.

  • How do you create a layer mask to cut out the tree using the selection made from the Channels panel?

    -With the desired pixels selected, you can click on the RGB channel to see all channels, go back to the layers panel, and create a layer mask. This will cut out the tree and apply the mask to the layer.

  • What is the purpose of creating a curves adjustment layer and clipping it to the tree layer in the example?

    -Creating a curves adjustment layer and clipping it to the tree layer allows you to apply effects and adjustments only to the tree and not the background, enabling you to enhance the image, such as creating a sunset effect.

  • How can you add more red light into the image to enhance the sunset effect?

    -You can select the red channel in the curves adjustment layer and click and drag from the center upwards to add more red light, enhancing the sunset effect on the image.

  • What is the recommended tutorial for learning more about advanced cut outs and masking in Photoshop?

    -The recommended tutorial for more advanced cut outs and masking is the 'Advance Hair Masking' tutorial, which is available on The Photoshop Training Channel.

  • How can viewers stay updated with new tutorials posted on The Photoshop Training Channel?

    -Viewers can click on the subscribe button and turn on the notification bell to receive updates whenever a new tutorial is posted on The Photoshop Training Channel.

Outlines

00:00

🌲 Cutting Out Trees with Blend If Technique

In the first paragraph, Jesus Ramirez introduces two powerful methods for cutting out trees in Photoshop that can be applied to other objects as well. He begins with the Blend If options, which allow for masking out or cutting out elements based on the luminosity of the layer or specific color channels. Ramirez demonstrates how to use the blue channel to hide the sky and isolate the tree, creating a smoother transition by splitting the Blend If control point. He emphasizes that this method is not true transparency but rather a way to hide pixels based on luminosity. To achieve a true transparency, he shows how converting the layer to a Smart Object reveals the transparency and allows for non-destructive editing. This trick is lesser-known, even among professionals.

05:03

📸 Using Channels for Complex Selections

The second paragraph presents a more widely recognized but equally powerful method for making complex selections using the Channels panel in Photoshop. Ramirez explains how to identify the channel with the highest contrast between the foreground and background, duplicates it, and then manipulates the image to solidify the black and white areas. He outlines several techniques to achieve this, including using adjustment levels, filling with a solid color, applying image blending modes, and employing dodge and burn tools. After inverting the colors to select the tree and deselect the sky, he demonstrates how to load the channel as a selection and apply a layer mask to isolate the tree. Ramirez then shows how to enhance the image with a sunset overlay and adjustment layers for a creative effect.

10:04

🎨 Enhancing Sunset Effects with Channel Selections

In the final paragraph, Ramirez adds a sunset effect to the image by adjusting the red channel to introduce more red light. He also encourages viewers to learn more about cutouts and masking through his Advance Hair Masking tutorial, with a link provided in the video description. Ramirez invites new viewers to subscribe and enable notifications to stay updated with The Photoshop Training Channel's tutorials. He concludes by thanking the viewers for watching and looks forward to their next interaction.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used software program designed for image editing, manipulation, and creation. In the context of the video, it is the primary tool used to demonstrate techniques for cutting out elements from an image, specifically trees. The video aims to educate viewers on how to use Photoshop's features to achieve professional-level editing results.

💡Blend If

Blend If is a feature within Photoshop's layer style options that allows for advanced control over how layers interact with each other based on color channels. In the video, it is used to hide or show pixels based on their luminosity or specific color channel values, which is crucial for creating a cutout of the tree by hiding the sky.

💡Luminosity

Luminosity in the context of image editing refers to the brightness or lightness of an image or its parts. It is a key concept in the video, as it is used to manipulate the visibility of pixels in the blue channel to separate the tree from the sky during the cutout process.

💡Channels

Channels in Photoshop represent the individual color components of an image, typically red, green, and blue. The video script discusses using the blue channel to make a selection due to its high contrast between the tree and the sky, which is a common technique for making complex selections.

💡Smart Object

A Smart Object in Photoshop is a layer that allows for non-destructive editing, meaning that the original content can be preserved and edited later without losing quality. In the video, converting a layer to a Smart Object is shown as a trick to create transparency and to allow for the selection of transparent pixels.

💡Layer Mask

A layer mask in Photoshop is a tool used to hide or show parts of a layer without permanently deleting the content. In the video, a layer mask is created using the selected tree to isolate it from the background, which is a fundamental technique for cutouts.

💡Selection

Selection in Photoshop refers to the process of defining a specific area of an image for manipulation. The video demonstrates how to make precise selections using the Channels panel, which is essential for cutting out elements like trees from their background.

💡Levels

Levels is an adjustment tool in Photoshop that controls the tonal range of an image, allowing for the manipulation of shadows, midtones, and highlights. In the video, levels are used to increase the contrast between black and white in the duplicated blue channel to prepare it for creating a selection.

💡Dodge and Burn Tools

The Dodge and Burn tools in Photoshop are used for selectively lightening (Dodge) or darkening (Burn) areas of an image. In the context of the video, these tools are employed to ensure that the tree is completely white and the sky is completely black in the channel, facilitating the selection process.

💡Curves Adjustment Layer

A Curves Adjustment Layer in Photoshop is a powerful tool for adjusting the tonal range and color balance of an image. In the video, it is used to darken the image and create a sunset effect, demonstrating how adjustment layers can be used for creative editing while preserving the original image data.

💡Transparency

Transparency in Photoshop refers to the property of an image that allows underlying layers to be visible through a layer with no content. The video teaches how to create and edit transparency using Blend If and Smart Objects, which is a vital skill for creating realistic cutouts and composites.

Highlights

Two powerful methods to cut out trees in Photoshop are presented, applicable to other subjects as well.

Blend If options can be used for masking or cutting out elements, such as a tree, from the background.

Luminosity of the layer can be used to show or hide pixels, which is a feature of the Blend If option.

The blue channel is often the best choice for selecting and hiding sky pixels due to its strong presence in sky colors.

Adjusting the 'This Layer' control in Blend If can hide or show pixels based on their blue luminosity.

Splitting the control point in Blend If creates a smoother transition between hidden and visible pixels.

Converting a layer to a Smart Object reveals true transparency and allows for non-destructive editing.

The Channels panel provides a well-known yet powerful method for making complicated selections with high contrast.

Duplicating a channel with the most contrast and adjusting it to solid black and white can create a precise selection.

Multiple techniques such as levels adjustment, Apply Image command, dodge and burn tools, and painting with black can be used to refine the channel for selection.

Inverting the channel's colors allows for the selection of the desired element, such as a tree, instead of the background.

Loading the channel as a selection and creating a layer mask is a straightforward way to isolate the subject.

A demonstration of adding a sunset overlay and adjusting curves to create a unique effect on the tree.

The red channel can be manipulated to enhance the sunset effect by adding more red light into the image.

An advanced hair masking tutorial is available for further learning on cut outs and masking.

Subscribing to The Photoshop Training Channel ensures notification of new tutorial posts.

The presenter emphasizes the uniqueness of the shared techniques, likely not found in many other tutorials.

The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to use Blend If and channels for complex selections in Photoshop.