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

In this tutorial from The Photoshop Training Channel, Jesus Ramirez demonstrates two advanced techniques for cutting out trees in Photoshop, which can be applied to other objects as well. The first method involves using the Blend If options to hide or show pixels based on the luminosity of the layer, specifically using the blue channel to isolate the sky from the tree. The second technique uses the Channels panel to create a high-contrast selection between the tree and the background. By duplicating the blue channel and adjusting it to solid black and white, a precise selection can be made. The video also covers converting a layer to a Smart Object to retain transparency and offers tips on using adjustment layers to fine-tune the final image. The tutorial concludes with a creative example of adding a sunset overlay to the tree image, showcasing the power of these techniques for creative editing.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Learn two powerful Photoshop techniques for cutting out objects, like trees, which can be applied to various selections.
• 🔍 Use the Blend If options to hide or show pixels based on the luminosity or specific color channels.
• 📘 Understand that Blend If allows for non-destructive editing, as changes in luminosity can reveal hidden parts of the image.
• 🎨 Converting a layer to a Smart Object after using Blend If can make the transparency visible and editable.
• 🖌️ The Channels panel offers a method for making complex selections by identifying the channel with the highest contrast between the subject and the background.
• 📸 Duplicate the high-contrast channel and adjust it to solid black and white to create a precise selection.
• ✅ Techniques such as levels adjustment, filling with color, Apply Image, dodge and burn tools, and painting with black can solidify the selection.
• 🔄 Inverting the selection ensures that the desired subject (tree) is selected and the background (sky) is deselected.
• 📱 Utilize keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl/Cmd + click or Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + channel number) to load the selection from a specific channel.
• 🎭 Adding layer masks to selections enables detailed and non-destructive editing, such as incorporating overlays and adjusting curves for effects.
• 👩‍🏫 For more advanced tutorials on cut outs and masking, consider checking out the Advance Hair Masking tutorial.
• 📺 Subscribe to The Photoshop Training Channel for more in-depth tutorials and get notified when new content is posted.

Q & A

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

The two powerful techniques discussed are using the Blend If options to hide or show pixels based on the luminosity or specific channels, and using the Channels panel to make complicated selections by working with contrast between the foreground and background.

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

The Blend If option allows users to hide or show pixels by utilizing the luminosity of the layer or by selecting different color channels. This can be particularly useful for selecting and isolating objects such as trees from their background.

Why is the blue channel often a good choice when using the Blend If technique to cut out objects?

The blue channel is often a good choice because it tends to contain a lot of information relevant to the pixels that are being selected, especially when the background has a strong blue component, like the sky.

What is the significance of converting a layer to a Smart Object in the context of the Blend If technique?

Converting a layer to a Smart Object allows the layer thumbnail to show transparency, enabling users to make a selection out of those transparent pixels. This step solidifies the transparency effect created by the Blend If settings.

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 make the background solid black and the foreground solid white, users can invert the selection to isolate the desired object.

What are some methods to make the background of an image solid black using the Channels panel?

Some methods include using the Levels adjustment to darken dark pixels, filling a selection with black color, using the Apply Image command with blending modes like Screen or Multiply, using the Dodge tool to brighten highlights, and painting with black on areas that need to be black.

How can the selection from the Channels panel be loaded for use in creating a layer mask?

The selection can be made by pressing Ctrl (Command on Mac) and clicking on the layer thumbnail, or by pressing Ctrl + Alt (Command + Option on Mac) along with the number corresponding to the copied channel, such as Ctrl + Alt + 6 for the blue copied channel.

What is the purpose of creating a layer mask after making a selection with the Channels panel?

Creating a layer mask allows for non-destructive editing, giving the user the ability to hide parts of the layer to isolate the object, such as a tree, from its background without permanently removing the background pixels.

How can the Curves adjustment layer be used to create a sunset effect on the tree after it has been selected using the Channels panel?

A Curves adjustment layer can be added above the tree layer and clipped to it, allowing the user to darken the image and enhance the sunset effect. Additionally, by selecting the red channel, the user can add more red light into the image to intensify the sunset color.

What is the advantage of using the 'This layer' control in the Blend If options?

The 'This layer' control in the Blend If options allows users to show or hide pixels based on the luminosity or color channels specific to that layer, providing precise control over which parts of the image are visible or transparent.

Why is it important to split the 'This layer' control point in the Blend If options?

Splitting the 'This layer' control point in the Blend If options creates a smoother transition between the visible and hidden pixels, which can be crucial for a more natural and professional look in the final image.

Outlines

00:00

🌲 Cutting Out Trees in Photoshop with Blend If

In this first paragraph, Jesus Ramirez introduces two powerful methods for cutting out trees in Photoshop, which can be applied to other subjects as well. The focus is on a lesser-known technique involving the Blend If options. By double-clicking a layer, one can access the Layer Style window where the Blend If feature allows for the manipulation of pixel visibility based on channel luminosity. Ramirez explains that the blue channel is often the best choice for isolating elements like the sky from a tree due to the sky's blue color. By adjusting the 'This layer' control for the blue channel, one can hide the sky, effectively creating a non-destructive cutout. The process involves hiding blue pixels and splitting the control point for a smoother transition. Upon converting the layer into a Smart Object, true transparency is achieved, allowing for non-destructive editing and adjustments without the original background reappearing.

05:03

📸 Using Channels for Advanced Selections

The second paragraph delves into a more widely recognized, yet still powerful, method of making complex selections using the Channels panel in Photoshop. Ramirez emphasizes the importance of choosing the channel with the highest contrast between the subject and the background, in this case, the blue channel. He demonstrates various techniques to achieve a solid black and white image, including using adjustment levels, making selections and filling with color, applying image blending modes like screen or multiply, and using dodge and burn tools for fine-tuning highlights and shadows. Once the image is properly prepared with solid colors, inverting the colors makes the tree selectable against the black background. A selection is then made using either the layer thumbnail or by loading the copied channel as a selection. This selection is used to create a layer mask, allowing for intricate and precise isolation of the tree. The paragraph concludes with a creative example of how to apply a sunset overlay and adjust the curves for a unique effect.

10:04

🎨 Enhancing Images with Color Channels

In the final paragraph, Ramirez demonstrates a technique to enhance an image by adjusting the red color channel to add more red light, creating a sunset effect. He also encourages viewers to check out his Advance Hair Masking tutorial for further learning on cut outs and masking. Ramirez reminds new viewers to subscribe and enable notifications to stay updated with the channel's tutorials. The paragraph ends with a note of gratitude for watching and a promise to connect with the audience again soon.

Keywords

💡Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used software for digital image manipulation and editing. In the context of the video, it is the primary tool used to demonstrate techniques for cutting out objects, such as trees, from a background. The video aims to teach viewers how to use Photoshop's features to make complex selections and create professional-quality cutouts.

💡Blend If

Blend If is a feature in Photoshop that allows users to control which parts of a layer blend with the layers beneath based on color luminosity. In the video, it is used to hide the blue pixels of the sky, thus creating a non-destructive way to isolate the tree from its background.

💡Channels

In Photoshop, channels represent the color information of an image and are typically red, green, and blue. The video discusses using the blue channel to make a selection because it offers the most contrast between the tree and the sky, which is crucial for the cutout process.

💡Smart Object

A Smart Object in Photoshop is a layer that retains its source content with all its original characteristics, enabling non-destructive editing. The video demonstrates converting a layer into a Smart Object to reveal transparency and allow for further editing of the Blend If settings.

💡Layer Mask

A layer mask in Photoshop is used to hide or show parts of a layer without affecting the layer's pixels directly. In the video, a layer mask is created using the selected tree to isolate it from the sky, which is a key step in the cutout process.

💡Luminosity

Luminosity in the context of Photoshop refers to the brightness or lightness of a color. The video explains using the luminosity of the blue channel to control which pixels are transparent, effectively hiding the sky to isolate the tree.

💡Selection Tools

Selection tools in Photoshop are used to select portions of an image for manipulation. The video shows how to use selection tools in combination with channels to make precise selections for cutting out the tree from the background.

💡Levels Adjustment

Levels adjustment is a tool in Photoshop used to adjust the tonal range of an image. In the video, levels are adjusted to make the darker pixels darker and the brighter pixels brighter, which helps in creating a high-contrast selection for the tree.

💡Dodge and Burn Tools

The Dodge and Burn tools in Photoshop are used to lighten or darken specific areas of an image. The video describes using these tools to ensure that the sky is completely white and the tree's shadows are completely black, facilitating a clean selection.

💡Curves Adjustment

Curves adjustment is another tool in Photoshop for fine-tuning the tonal range and contrast of an image. The video uses curves to darken the image and create a sunset effect, demonstrating the tool's role in enhancing the final appearance of the edited image.

💡Sunset Overlay

A sunset overlay is a pre-made image or texture that can be used in Photoshop to add a sunset effect to a photo. In the video, a sunset overlay is added beneath the tree layer to create a dramatic visual effect, showcasing the use of overlays for creative editing.

Highlights

Two powerful methods for cutting out trees in Photoshop are presented, applicable to other objects as well.

Blend If options can be used for masking or cutting out elements like trees.

Luminosity of the layer can show or hide pixels, aiding in selection.

The blue channel is often the best choice for selecting sky pixels due to its color information.

Blend If allows for a smoother transition by splitting the control point.

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

Channels panel can be used to make complex selections with high contrast between foreground and background.

Duplicating a channel and adjusting levels can solidify colors for easier selection.

Apply Image command can be used to enhance contrast between dark and light pixels.

Dodge and Burn tools can manually adjust highlights and shadows for better selection.

Brush tool can be used to paint in areas that need to be solid black or white.

Inverting colors can change the selection from sky to tree.

Loading a channel as a selection allows for precise masking.

Creating a layer mask from the selection isolates the tree for further editing.

Adding a sunset overlay and adjustment layers can create dramatic effects.

Adjusting individual color channels can enhance specific colors in the image.

Advanced Hair Masking tutorial is available for further learning on cut outs and masking.

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