How do you mask images using photoshop?

Question

so that the only thing is the person.

Answer 1

There are many ways to do it. This is my favorite method using the Lasso and Quick Mask tools:

1) I never work of the original. I always use a duplicate layer until I'm happy with the final mask.

2) Using the Lasso tool I make a rough selection around the object I want to mask

3) I refine the rough mask as much as possible using the Lasso tool in conbination with the Shift and Alt keys to add or delete bits of the selection

4) I invert the selection. I find it easier having the Quick Mask over the object instead of on the background. (personal preference)

5) Then, I select the Quick Mask option and with the brush and eraser tools I add or delete bits of the mask. I use a brush tip with little or no edge hardness and if I want to mask hair or fuzzy edges I change the trasparency of the brushes to 60% - 40%avoiding hard edges and blending better with the new background.

6) To test the mask I get off the Quick Mask mode, revert the selection, delete the background and place the masked object on top of a green (R=0 G= 255 B=0 ) or blue (R=0 G=0 B=255) background. These colors create high contrast with lower saturated colors making it easy to detect errors (that's why these two colors are used for special effects)

7) If I'm not happy with the result I retrace my steps with the History tool to before reverting the selection and keep working on the mask as described on step 5.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

There are a zillion different ways to 'mask' portions of an image in photoshop. Some tools you can try depending upon how difficult/complex the mask is are: the Select Color Range (good if you have fairly good contrast between the desired image area and the area you want to do away with), there's Filter>Extract; you can use the pen tool to create a path if the edges of the desired area are smooth... Just to name a few

Whatever you choose, always make a copy of your untouched picture to a new layer and work on the layer. That way you never lose the original.

Also, do a search on yahoo or google for 'photoshop masking tutorial' and you will find a veritable cornucopia of helpful tips.

If you are going to be doing this often, check out the excellent publication 'PhotoShop Masking and Compositing' - it is an excellent resource for all things mask related.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Explain how do you want to combine the pictures; side by side, on top of each other? You can also google photoshop tutorials there pretty easy to follow even if your not photoshop smart

Answer 4

you can use the magic wand tool, or the selection tool.
and draw around the person, and the go to the selection option and do 'inverse', which will deselect the person and select the backgound, then hit delete. or you can manually just use the 'eraser' tool and thne a soft erase tool around the person.

Answer 5

This can b done with other easy programs too,such as ms paint,google picasa(can download free here http://angle-mine.blogspot.com )

u can select the part of the photo to b in focus as u want,and the remaining will b blurred.And if u need to build a free website of ur edited art,this quality software from google has that inbuilt system too.