Making a Cut-Out

1- Open your document in Photoshop (right click>open_with>Photoshop)

2- Select the Magnetic Lasso Tool and go around part of the image you want to keep. You can create a keypoint when ever you want by click. Be careful not to double click until you are all the way complete.

3- Once the bulk of the subject is selected (using the lasso in step 2), click on the Quick Mask button on the tool bar. This floods the unwanted area with a color (you can change it to best suit your image). Now you are ready to do the FINE DETAILS.

4- Use the following tools to move around the image and make your cut-out perfect

H- the hand allows your to move about the image
B- Paint Brush allows to to paint more mask
E- Eraser allows you to free more of the subject.
L- Polygon Lasso is good for selecting larger areas. Once selected, once an area may be filled.
SHIFT+ F5- Fills the selection

5- Once the Quick Mask work is done, complete the following steps to make your cut-out complete and ready to upload to YEARBOOK AVENUE.

• CLICK on the Quick mask button again creating marching ants around the subject.
• COM+X to cut out the background
• COM+N to open a new doc
• COM+V to paste in the subject
• Delete the background layer

Save as a TIFF document with a descriptive name. MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON KEEP TRANSPARENCY on the save options.

That might seem like a lot... because it is. But if you start playing with cut-outs in your spare time you can get very good at it quickly. AND PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

I know lots of other tricks as well for tough cut-outs but, the real trick is getting a good photo. Take those pictures one the PORTRAIT setting of your camera and have the subject take a few steps away from a wall. Also, avoid the red lockers. They mess with the colors on the photo.

HAPPY CUTTING!