photoshop: cutouts tutorial

Photoshop

Making Cut-Outs

What is a “Cut-Out”?“Cut out” refers to an image with no

background, or a transparent background. These can be used creatively in our yearbook!

ToolsFind the “Lasso Tool” on your toolbar. Right (secondary) click the tool to see other options.

Lasso Tool:Flowing, freehand drawing of a selection.

Polygonal Lasso Tool:Drawing a selection by connecting straight lines together.

Magnetic Lasso Tool:When you draw a selection, the pen automatically attempts to detect edges using color contrast.

Zoom in close…To make a cut-out, your objective is to draw a neat line around the subject. So first, use the “zoom tool” to zoom in to clearly see the edge of your subject:

Trace the subject…Use one of the lasso tools to draw a line around the subject. Stay as close to the edge as possible. Make the shape as accurate as possible.

Close the shape…You must continue drawing until you make it all the way around the subject, and create a closed shape by connecting the end of your line to the point where you started. After you close the shape, your line will become a dotted line, like this:

Close the shape…You must continue drawing until you make it all the way around the subject, and create a closed shape by connecting the end of your line to the point where you started. After you close the shape, your line will become a dotted line, like this:

Fix mistakes…Let’s say you accidentally forgot to trace the arm. You can ADD or SUBTRACT from your current selection after you close the shape. Let’s see how…

oops!

Fix mistakes…At the top toolbar, click “add to selection”: Now we can draw an outline around the arm that was missed.

Fix mistakes…Practice adding and subtracting pixels from your original selection…

Refine edge…With you figure now selected, click the button at the top toolbar. You must have one of the lasso tools selected to see this option. When you click it, smooth the edge of your cut-out by moving the sliders.

Refine edge…With you figure now selected, click the button at the top toolbar. You must have one of the lasso tools selected to see this option. When you click it, smooth the edge of your cut-out by moving the sliders.

Copy the cut-out…After you adjust the edge, return to your image and copy it. (Select “Edit” > “Copy” or click command+C on your keyboard).

Create a new file…Now create a blank document to paste your cut-on on. Go to “File” > “New” or click command+N on your keyboard.

Create a new file…When you create a new document directly after copying something, by default, Photoshop will make the new document the same size as the thing you copied. Make sure the “Background Contents” of the new document is set to “Transparent,” then click “OK.”

Create a new file…After you click OK, you should see a blank document open in a new tab. A checkerboard pattern indicates that the document is transparent.

Create a new file…Paste your selection on the new document by selecting “Edit” > “Paste” or clicking command+V on your keyboard.

Create a new file…Save your new image. Go to “File” > “Save As.” When the save window pops open, change the file type to a .png file (this allows the transparent background to function properly).

Add your image to InDesign!Draw an empty frame on your InDesign document.

Add your image to InDesign!“Place” your .png file into the frame. Right click when it is selected and use the “fitting” options to fit your image proportionally in the frame.