Bored of looking at the same thing? Change
the view out of your window using the Colour Channels and Load Selection tool.
Cut out subjects in Photoshop using the Colour Channels in
four simple steps
There are many ways to cut out objects in
Photoshop, but none are simpler then this method. Using the Colour Channels too
we’ll reveal just how easy it is to select an area of your image to cut out.
You should note that this method won’t work with every subject – use it on your
photographs that have a clear contrast or colour difference between subjects.
For this tutorial you will need a copy of
Photoshop and two starting images. To use our examples, go to the CD and
download from the link now.
Before
After
1. Channels
Open the image, go to Windows>Channels,
select the Blue Channel and duplicate it. It will be named Blue Copy Layer by
default. Next go to Image>Levels and create a contrast between the shadows
and highlights. Drag the dark marker right and the white marker left. Click OK.
2. Load section
Next go to Select>Load Selection and the
area will be automatically selected. Reselect the other Colour Channels and
deselect the Blue Copy Layer. Next, go to the Levels palette and double click
on the background Layer to unlock it. By default it will become Layer 0.
3. Bring in the view
Hit delete and the window space will
disappear. Open up the image that will be the new view in your composition and
drag it into the working file. It will become Layer 1. Move Layer 1 to
underneath Layer 0 in the Layers palette.
4. Rescale and burn the edges
If you need to rescale Layer 1 go to
Edit>Transform and hold down Shift as you adjust the size to keep the
proportions in scale. Delete the red fringing around the edges by going to
Layer>Matting>Defringe, or use the Burn tool and dull the edges.
Cut out hair
Before
After
This method of working can also be used to
cut out fiddly subjects such as hair. Go about it in exactly the same way as
explained in these steps and again, the Blue Channel will work best.
