How To Remove a Background In Photoshop [For Beginners!]

In this tutorial, the presenter guides beginners through the process of removing a background in Photoshop. They start by opening the image and using the Select and Mask workspace for precise selections. The Quick Selection Tool and Adobe Sensei's AI capabilities are introduced to make selections easier. After generating a rough selection, the presenter refines the mask edges using various sliders and tools, including the Refine Edge Brush Tool. They also demonstrate how to handle complex areas like hair and how to use the Remove Background button for quick masking. Finally, they show how to place a new background and adjust the mask for a seamless composite. The presenter emphasizes the importance of fine-tuning details for a realistic result and encourages viewers to explore further tutorials on advanced masking techniques.

Takeaways

• 🎨 **Beginner-Friendly Tutorial**: The video is designed for beginners, ensuring a slow pace and easy-to-understand instructions for removing backgrounds in Photoshop.
• 📷 **Image Selection**: The tutorial uses an image of a woman running through a bridge to demonstrate the background removal process.
• 🔍 **Select and Mask Workspace**: Introduced as a dedicated workspace in Photoshop for making precise selections and masks.
• 🖌️ **Quick Selection Tool**: Utilized for making an initial selection by clicking and dragging over the image to automatically find edges.
• 🧠 **Adobe Sensei AI**: Highlighted as a tool that can be used to automatically select the main subject in the image with a single click.
• 📐 **Object Selection Tool**: Shown as a method to select a specific subject when an image contains multiple subjects.
• 🖋️ **Fine-Tuning the Selection**: Emphasized the need to manually refine the selection, especially around complex areas like hair.
• 🌐 **Global Refinements**: Explained as sliders that help in smoothing, feathering, increasing contrast, and shifting the edge of the mask for a better selection.
• 🧑‍🦰 **Hair Selection Technique**: Demonstrated a separate step for selecting hair using the Refine Edge Brush or the Refine Hair button for better precision.
• 🎭 **Layer Mask for Non-Destructive Editing**: Described as a feature that allows hiding of pixels without permanently removing them from the image.
• 🖼️ **Background Replacement**: Illustrated how to place a new background behind the subject using the Place Embedded feature in Photoshop.
• ✅ **Final Touches**: Encouraged viewers to spend time on final adjustments and use the Layer Mask to fix any imperfections by painting with white or black.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is teaching beginners how to remove backgrounds in Photoshop.

How can viewers get the same photo used in the tutorial?

Viewers can find a link to the presenter's website in the video description to download the photo used in the tutorial.

What is the first step in removing the background in Photoshop according to the video?

The first step is to open the image in Photoshop and go into Select, then Select and Mask to access the dedicated workspace for precise selections and masks.

What is the Select Subject button used for?

The Select Subject button uses artificial intelligence to automatically analyze the image and select the main subject.

How can you deselect areas you don't intend to select when using the Quick Selection Tool?

You can hold Alt on Windows or Option on Mac and click-and-drag to deselect areas that you did not intend to select.

What is a Layer Mask in Photoshop?

A Layer Mask is a nondestructive way of hiding pixels in an image, allowing for adjustments without permanently altering the image data.

How can you adjust the edges of a mask to make them look more realistic?

You can use the Global Refinements sliders such as Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge to control and improve the mask's edges.

Why does the presenter suggest separating the selection of the body and the hair?

The presenter suggests separating the selection of the body and the hair because the edges around the body and hair require different treatment for better results.

What is the purpose of using the Refine Edge Brush Tool?

The Refine Edge Brush Tool is used to manually refine the selection around complex areas like hair, allowing for more precise control and better results.

How can you add a new background to an image in Photoshop?

You can add a new background by going to File, selecting Place Embedded, placing the new background image over the existing one, and committing the changes.

What are some advanced techniques for making a composite image look realistic?

Advanced techniques include adding shadows, highlights, and color matching to blend the foreground element seamlessly with a completely different background.

What are the Minimum and Maximum Filter tools used for in Photoshop?

The Minimum and Maximum Filter tools are used for masking and can help in refining selections, especially in areas with complex details or noise.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Background Removal in Photoshop

The video begins with an introduction to the process of removing backgrounds in Photoshop, tailored for beginners. The presenter promises a slow-paced tutorial that breaks down the process into manageable steps. The audience is encouraged to follow along with the same photo provided through a link in the video description. Additionally, viewers are urged to like and subscribe to the Photoshop Training Channel for more content. The image used for the tutorial is presented, depicting a woman running through a bridge, and the goal is set to remove the background using a versatile technique applicable in most cases.

05:02

🔍 Selecting and Masking in Photoshop

The presenter explains how to make precise selections and masks in Photoshop using the Select and Mask workspace. The tools available in this workspace are outlined, including those for making and editing selections, as well as for navigating the image. The default Onionskin mode and its transparency settings are described, allowing viewers to see selected pixels against the original image. Various methods for making selections are detailed, such as using the Quick Selection Tool and Adobe Sensei's artificial intelligence through the Select Subject button. The presenter also demonstrates the Object Selection Tool for images with multiple subjects and the fine-tuning process for enhancing the selection. Techniques for fixing mask edges and dealing with imperfections are also covered, emphasizing the importance of fine-tuning for a realistic cutout.

10:02

🖌️ Refining the Mask and Adding a Background

The video continues with instructions on refining the mask, particularly around the hair, using the Refine Edge Brush Tool and the Refine Hair feature in newer versions of Photoshop. The presenter manually undoes an unsatisfactory A.I. result and proceeds with manual adjustments. After refining the mask, the presenter demonstrates how to output the selection as a Layer Mask to remove the background non-destructively. A solid color adjustment layer is added to create a new background for the image. The presenter also addresses potential imperfections in the mask and shows how to fix them using the Brush Tool. A shortcut for toggling between the foreground and background colors is shared, and the importance of spending time on final adjustments is emphasized. Additionally, the presenter mentions a quick mask feature and demonstrates how to replace the background with a new photo using the Place Embedded option.

Keywords

Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used image editing software developed by Adobe Inc. It is a powerful tool that allows users to manipulate and enhance digital images. In the context of the video, it is the primary tool used for removing the background from a photo, which is a common task in graphic design and photo editing.

Select and Mask

Select and Mask is a feature within Photoshop that provides a dedicated workspace for making precise selections and creating masks. It is used in the video to select the woman running through the bridge and separate her from the background. The Select and Mask workspace includes tools for refining selections and offers options to adjust the properties of the selection for a cleaner result.

Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop is used for making selections by clicking and dragging over the areas of an image. It automatically finds the edges of the areas selected, which is helpful for quickly selecting objects within a photo. In the video, it is mentioned as one of the ways to start making a selection in the image.

Adobe Sensei

Adobe Sensei is Adobe's artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that powers many of the smart features in Adobe's creative software, including Photoshop. In the video, the presenter uses Adobe Sensei to automatically select the main subject in the image by clicking the 'Select Subject' button, which simplifies the selection process.

Object Selection Tool

The Object Selection Tool is a feature in Photoshop that allows for the selection of specific objects within an image using a combination of the Lasso tool and AI. In the video, it is used to make a loose selection around the person the user wants to keep when there are multiple subjects in the image. This tool helps refine the selection to include only the desired subject.

Layer Mask

A Layer Mask in Photoshop is a non-destructive editing technique that allows users to hide or reveal parts of a layer without affecting the original image data. In the video, the presenter uses a Layer Mask to remove the background of the image, providing the flexibility to revert changes if needed.

Global Refinements

Global Refinements are sliders within the Select and Mask workspace that allow users to adjust the edges of their selection or mask. These include settings for Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge. In the video, the presenter uses Global Refinements to improve the mask's edges, making them smoother and sharper for a more realistic cutout.

Refine Edge Brush Tool

The Refine Edge Brush Tool is a specialized tool in Photoshop used for fine-tuning the edges of a selection, especially useful for complex areas like hair. In the video, the presenter uses this tool to manually refine the selection around the model's hair, ensuring that the background is removed cleanly without losing any hair details.

Solid Color

In Photoshop, a Solid Color is a layer style that applies a flat color to a layer. In the context of the video, the presenter adds a Solid Color adjustment layer to create a simple background for the image, which is essential for showcasing the subject without any distractions.

Foreground and Background Colors

In Photoshop, the foreground and background colors are used in various tools, including the Brush Tool, to apply color to an image. The foreground color is what gets applied when painting or using similar tools, while the background color can be used for erasing or hiding parts of the image. In the video, the presenter demonstrates using these colors to adjust the Layer Mask, revealing or hiding pixels as needed.

Density Slider

The Density slider in Photoshop is used to adjust the opacity of certain layer styles or effects, such as a Layer Mask. In the video, the presenter uses the Density slider to temporarily reduce the opacity of the Layer Mask, making it easier to see and correct any imperfections in the selection.

Highlights

This tutorial is designed for beginners, ensuring a slow pace and digestible information.

The same photo used in the tutorial can be downloaded from the instructor's website.

Select and Mask is a dedicated workspace for making precise selections and masks in Photoshop.

Quick Selection Tool can be used to make selections by clicking and dragging over the desired areas.

Adobe Sensei's artificial intelligence can be utilized for automatic subject selection.

The Object Selection Tool can be used to isolate a single subject when there are multiple in the image.

Automatic selections require fine-tuning using tools like the Quick Selection Tool and Brush Tool.

Global Refinements sliders such as Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge help in refining mask edges.

A Layer Mask is a nondestructive method to hide or show pixels, allowing for adjustments without damaging the original image.

Separate selections are recommended for the body and hair to achieve better results.

The Refine Edge Brush Tool is effective for fine-tuning selections around complex areas like hair.

Photoshop 2021 and newer versions have a Refine Hair button for AI-assisted hair selection.

Solid Color adjustment layers can be used to create a new background for an image.

Imperfections in the mask can be fixed by painting with a Brush Tool using white or black to add or subtract from the mask.

The Remove Background button in the Properties Panel provides a quick mask creation using AI.

File placement allows for adding a new background to an image as a layer.

Advanced techniques such as shadows, highlights, and color matching are covered in other tutorials for a more realistic composite.

The Minimum and Maximum Filter tools are discussed in another tutorial for advanced masking techniques.

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