How To Remove a Background In Photoshop [For Beginners]

In this beginner-friendly Photoshop tutorial, Jesús Ramirez shares professional techniques for background removal, focusing on precision and editing flexibility. The process is broken down into three main steps: selecting the main subject with tools like Quick Selection and Adobe's Cloud service for better selections; refining hard edges with Global Refinement sliders; and addressing hair or intricate details with the Layer Mask and Refine Edge brush tool. Additional tips include fixing common issues like incomplete masks, using custom brushes for complex areas, and adjusting for varying blurriness. The video concludes with advice on exporting the image with transparency as a PNG and encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more informative content.

Takeaways

• 🎨 **Selecting the Main Subject**: Use the Select and Mask tool for precise selections without interface distractions.
• 🔍 **Quick Selection Tool**: Click and drag to automatically find edges and expand the selection.
• 🌐 **Select Subject with Cloud**: Send the image to Adobe's Cloud service for better selection quality, requiring an internet connection.
• 📷 **Object Selection Tool**: Useful for multi-subject photos where only one subject is to be selected.
• 🖌 **Fine-Tuning Edges**: Use the Zoom tool to add missing areas to the selection manually.
• 📏 **Refine Hard Edges**: Use Global Refinement sliders to smooth and sharpen the edges of the selection.
• 🧑 **Separating Hair from Body**: Treat hair and other intricate details separately for better results.
• 🎭 **Layer Mask for Non-Destructive Editing**: Use layer masks to hide areas without deleting the original content.
• 🧹 **Refine Edge Brush Tool**: Capture fine details around hair or complex edges that standard tools might miss.
• 🖋 **Custom Brushes for Detailing**: Use custom brushes to paint back in details like flyaway hair or fuzzy edges.
• 🔄 **Fixing Common Issues**: Address incomplete masks or color casts with manual brush adjustments and blending modes.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Jesús Ramirez's tutorial?

The main focus of Jesús Ramirez's tutorial is to teach professional techniques for removing backgrounds in Photoshop, specifically for beginners, in a straightforward three-step formula.

Why does Jesús prefer using 'Select and Mask' over the 'Remove background' button?

Jesús prefers using 'Select and Mask' because it provides a workspace that allows for precise selections and masks without the distractions of the entire Photoshop interface, offering more control and leading to better results.

What is the Cloud option in the 'Select Subject' feature?

The Cloud option in the 'Select Subject' feature sends the image to Adobe's service to process it and generate a better selection. It requires an internet connection and generally provides a more accurate selection compared to the Device option.

How can you temporarily activate the Subtract button while using the Quick Selection tool?

You can temporarily activate the Subtract button by holding the Alt key on Windows or the Option key on a Mac while dragging to remove areas from the selection.

What tool can be used to select intricate details like hair?

The Refine Edge brush tool can be used to select intricate details like hair. It uses Photoshop's edge detection algorithms to capture fine details that standard selection tools might miss.

How does a layer mask work in Photoshop?

A layer mask in Photoshop is a non-destructive way of hiding areas in an image. It hides content without deleting it, allowing for the hidden content to be brought back at any time.

What is the purpose of the 'Refine Hair' button in the Select and Mask workspace?

The 'Refine Hair' button uses artificial intelligence to attempt to locate the hair and apply the same adjustment as the Refine Edge brush tool over the areas it finds, helping to improve the selection around hair.

How can you fix an incomplete mask or over masking issue in Photoshop?

To fix an incomplete mask or over masking issue, you can use the Brush tool on the mask. Painting with black hides the remains of the background, while painting with white reveals any hidden areas of the subject.

What is the purpose of the Minimum filter in Photoshop?

The Minimum filter in Photoshop is used to contract the mask, which can help reduce strong outlines around the main subject after masking.

How can you remove a color cast caused by a colored background in Photoshop?

To remove a color cast, create a new layer above the main subject, apply a clip in mask, change the blending mode to Color, and then use the Brush tool with the Eye Dropper to paint away the color spill.

What file format should be used to export an image with a transparent background from Photoshop?

The PNG file format should be used to export an image with a transparent background from Photoshop.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Photoshop Background Removal Techniques

In this tutorial, Jesús Ramirez shares professional techniques for background removal in Photoshop, focusing on precision and editing flexibility. He introduces a three-step method suitable for beginners, starting with selecting the main subject using the Select and Mask tool for better control. He also discusses the use of the Cloud option for improved selection quality, which requires an internet connection, and the Object Selection tool for multi-subject images. The tutorial promises to address common problems and introduces professional brushes for enhancing the process.

05:03

🔍 Refining Edges and Selecting Hair in Photoshop

The second part of the tutorial deals with refining hard edges and selecting intricate details like hair. Ramirez explains how to switch to Black and White view for better visibility and use Global Refinement sliders to smooth and sharpen edges. He emphasizes that hair should be treated separately due to its complexity. The Refine Edge brush tool is introduced for capturing fine details, and the Refine Hair button is mentioned for AI-assisted selection. The paragraph also covers how to use layer masks non-destructively and provides tips for addressing common issues like incomplete masks or over masking.

10:04

🖌️ Advanced Masking and Color Correction

This section covers advanced techniques for masking and addressing color issues. Ramirez demonstrates how to use the Brush tool to fix incomplete masks or over masked areas by painting with black to hide parts of the background and white to reveal hidden content. He introduces custom brushes for adding details like flyaway hair and fuzzy edges. The tutorial also shows how to use the Blur tool for varying blurriness and the Minimum filter for reducing strong outlines. Additionally, he explains how to correct color casts using a clipping mask with a Color blending mode and how to adjust layer opacity for intensity control.

15:07

📋 Final Touches and Exporting the Image

In the final paragraph, Ramirez discusses the subtle but significant impact of the previous steps on the image. He advises exporting the image as a PNG to preserve transparency after the background has been removed. He encourages viewers to like and subscribe if they found the tutorial helpful, emphasizing the importance of feedback for the channel.

Keywords

Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used software for image editing, created by Adobe Inc. It is a crucial tool for graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists. In the context of the video, it is used to demonstrate how to remove backgrounds from images professionally, which is an essential skill for creating movie and TV posters.

Select and Mask

Select and Mask is a feature within Photoshop that provides a dedicated workspace for making precise selections and masks. It is used in the video to create detailed selections around the main subject of an image, which is a critical step in the background removal process.

Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop is used for making selections by identifying edges in an image. It automatically expands the selection to match the identified edges. In the video, it is mentioned as an option for selecting specific objects, like an article of clothing, within an image.

Select Subject

The Select Subject feature in Photoshop is a tool that helps to quickly select the main subject of an image. It uses either device processing or cloud processing to generate a selection. In the video, the presenter prefers the Cloud option for better selection results, although it requires an internet connection.

Object Selection Tool

The Object Selection Tool is used when there are multiple subjects in an image and only one needs to be selected. It allows for precise selection of the desired subject. In the video, it is used in conjunction with the Object Finder to isolate and select a specific person within a photo.

Layer Mask

A Layer Mask in Photoshop is a non-destructive method of hiding or showing parts of a layer. It is used to refine the selection around the subject's hair without affecting the rest of the image. Layer Masks are essential for maintaining editing flexibility and are highlighted in the video as a key part of the background removal process.

Refine Edge Brush Tool

The Refine Edge Brush Tool is a sophisticated tool in Photoshop that uses edge detection algorithms to capture fine details, such as hair, which are difficult to select with standard tools. In the video, it is used to manually adjust the selection around the subject's hair for a more precise and natural-looking result.

Global Refinement Sliders

Global Refinement Sliders in the Select and Mask workspace of Photoshop are used to make adjustments to the overall selection edges. They include sliders for Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge, which help in refining the selection's appearance. In the video, the presenter uses these sliders to improve the edges of the selection before moving on to more detailed work.

Color Cast

A color cast refers to an unwanted hue that appears over an image or a portion of it, often due to the reflection of surrounding colors. In the context of the video, the presenter discusses how to fix color casts that may occur around the edges of a subject when removing a colored background, such as a green screen.

PNG

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics and is a file format used for saving images with transparency. In the video, the presenter mentions exporting the image as a PNG to preserve the transparent background after the removal process is complete.

Custom Brushes

Custom Brushes in Photoshop are pre-made or user-created brush settings that can be used for various effects and details. The video includes the use of custom brushes to paint back in details such as flyaway hairs or fuzzy edges, which can be challenging to achieve through selection and masking alone.

Highlights

Photoshop beginners can learn professional techniques for background removal.

The importance of precise edges and editing flexibility in professional practice.

A three-step formula is introduced for straightforward background removal.

Selecting the main subject using the Select and Mask tool for better control.

Using the quick selection tool and the Subtract icon for mistakes.

The Select Subject button with Cloud option for improved selection.

Comparison between Device and Cloud options for image processing.

Object Selection tool for multi-subject photos to keep a specific subject.

Fine-tuning the automatic selection to get better edges.

Global Refinement sliders for smoothing and sharpening edges.

Shift Edge Slider to reduce edge halos in the selection.

Separating the selection of the main subject's body and hair for better results.

Using a layer mask for non-destructive background removal.

Refine Edge brush tool for capturing fine details in hair selection.

Refine Hair button for AI-based edge detection in hair areas.

Addressing common issues like incomplete masks or over masking with brush tools.

Custom brushes for painting back detailed areas like flyaway hair.

Blur tool to match varying degrees of blurriness around subject edges.

Minimum filter to contract and clean up strong outlines around the subject.

Color cast removal using a clipping mask and color blending mode.

Exporting the image as a PNG to preserve transparency after background removal.