Photoshop tutorial - 5 methods to make

Like almost every action in Photoshop, leaving an element without a background has multiple ways of doing it. Depending on what we are going to cut and the precision we are looking for, it will be more advisable to use one method or another.

We have previously discussed in this blog the importance of having a library of resources to our liking. For some elements, we resort to internet downloads and for others, as will be seen in this post, it is better to do them ourselves.

First of all and before looking at any of the 5 methods, it is necessary to mention the method that should NEVER be used, the DRAFT. The reason we should never delete backgrounds with the eraser is that we will lose that part of the image forever and we may need to get it back at some point. So it is highly recommended to never delete anything permanently and use duplicate layers and layer masks instead.

BRUSH IN LAYER MASK

It is an alternative tool to the eraser. Creating a layer mask allows us to hide part of the image and leave only the element we need visible, working as well as a crop. With this method, we achieve all the precision we really want to put in the cutout, since what we are really doing is painting the areas that we do not want to be seen. The smaller the brush, the more precise the cut.

We select the brush tool (B).
We add a layer mask with the "Add a mask" button located at the bottom of the layers menu.
We select the newly created layer mask.
With the black color, we are painting the contour areas of the figure that we want to cut to isolate it from the rest of the image.

The 4 methods we are going to talk about below are actually ways to make a selection. Once we have selected the element that we are going to cut, we just have to add a layer mask and we will see how the background disappears instantly.

POLYGONAL TIE

When I started using photo retouching Photoshop years ago the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) was the quintessential tool for making a selection. Its versatility and ease of use make it perfect for beginners. But this apparently simple tool hides a couple of very useful tricks to make a more precise selection. The first is that if we maintain shift while using the lasso we will create a perfectly orthogonal line and the second, that when we hold down the Alt key (Opt on Mac) and the left mouse button we will start using the normal Lasso (follow the movement of the mouse ) instead of the traverse.

We select the polygonal lasso tool (L). We can also use the lasso tool (without traverse) if we have a pen tablet or the pulse of a surgeon. The magnetic loop is the third alternative but it is not recommended.

We adjust the value of “Fade” to 0px and mark the tick of “Smooth”.

MAGIC WAND

The magic wand (W) is presented as a simple option for complex selections, we click on the element that we are going to select and the wand does the rest. Unfortunately, it doesn't work as well as we all would like. This tool selects everything that resembles the point at which we clicked, click the green, and select green. But the problem arises when we have to select whites or blacks, which are usually found everywhere. This tool is only useful if we have a very well-contrasted object from the rest of the image.

We select the magic wand (W) or the quick selection, which works the same as the wand but with fewer adjustments. Holding shift we can add to the selection and holding Alt (Opt on Mac) we remove part of the selection.

In the settings, it is recommended to always have the “Smooth” option checked and play with the tolerance value to achieve a more precise selection.
The most accurate and also the slowest option.

If you are one of those who needs everything to be perfect, this is your tool to make selections. The pen allows us to make paths by placing anchor points that we can move at any time. Every time we create a point, it joins the previous one with a straight line, but if we keep the mouse click and move it, we will see that the line begins to curve. Knowing this, we can already develop the most complex layouts. Also at any time, we can make a point by holding the Ctrl key (Cmd on Mac) to move it or the Alt key (Opt on Mac) to change the curvature.

We select the pen tool (P).

We go to the paths tab to select the paths that we make with the pen. They are saved just like Photoshop layers and can be easily changed.

Click on the "Load path as selection" button to convert our recent path into a selection ready for trimming.

COLOR RANGE

As with the magic wand, the selection by color range needs to have clear differences between what we want to select and the rest, that is, do not use this tool to select a tree within a forest, but if a tree with a background sky. The tool is very easy to understand, holding Shift we can move the mouse over the colors that we want to be selected and holding Alt (Opt on Mac) we do the same for the colors that we do not want in our selection.

In the displayed box we uncheck the option “Localized color groups” to achieve a more precise selection. It is also advisable to vary the tolerance in each case until the best result is achieved.

more article  what is clipping path and why it is important