Masking out Difficult Images in Photoshop

It would be very difficult and time consuming to separate this image from its background because of
the complexity and fine detail involved with the feathers on the lady’s headdress. This tutorial will focus
on using Channels to help mask out a complex objects with clean edges. This technique will also save
you a lot of time. The initial goal is to separate the feathers from the pink background on the left side
of the face, there are lots of places where tiny bits of pink are showing through the feathers

Make a duplicate layer of the image. This way the original is preserved on the background and we are
working on a duplicated layer. Hide the background by clicking off its visibility icon. Choose
Select>Color Range from the Menu. When the Color Range Dialog box open, choose the Left Eye
Dropper tool and click on the background color in the image window (pink). You will see the selected
color turn white in the dialog box. More the Fuzziness slider until the image is mostly black and the
background is a clean as you can get it. Tip: To add a color to the selection click on the eyedropper
tool with the plus sign and click in the image. Click ok

2
With the selection active, switch to the Channels palette. Click the save selection as channel button, it’s
the second one to the left on the bottom of the channels palette. A new alpha channel will now be
visible. Press “Ctrl/Cmd+D” to Deselect and click on Alpha 1 in the channels palette. The main window
will now turn black and white. The advantage of using a channel is the ability to fine tune the selection
without effecting the original image. Black represents the areas that we want to keep and white, the
areas to be discarded.

3
Notice that there are areas of gray, these would be semi-transparent and need to become solid black
and white (except for areas that should be semi transparent such as soft edges). There are tiny dots
also visible, there will make for a very messy selection. Here is a quick solution that I have come up
with: Click Image>Adjustments>Levels..
In the levels Dialog box, click the black point slider on the left and drag it to the right until the gray
areas have become a solid black, Slide the White point slider to the left until the whites are nice and
clean and the grainy effect has gone. Click ok to apply.

4
 Time to fine tune the mask. Choose a black brush and make
the edge hard. Paint over all the areas that belong in the object to mask out. Use a larger brush for
large areas and a smaller brush for finer detail such as around the feathers. Use a white paint color to
paint out the areas that should be removed.

5
 Sometimes it can be
hard to guess which part of the image belongs in the foreground and a peek at the original image is
needed. Click on eye icon to the left of RGB at the top of the Channels palette (Fig 5). The original
photo is now visible and the mask appears as a reddish color. Click the eye icon to go back to the mask
view. The mask can also be hidden by toggling the eye (visibility icon). Keep going until you have a
clean mask.

6
 Hold Cmd(Ctrl PC) and
click on the Alpha 1 thumbnail. You will now see an active selection. Click on RGB to see the color
image. Open the layers palette. Select the working layer and press the Delete key (Backspace on
Windows). The masked area of the backround will now be removed to reveal a nice clean masking
effect. At this point In am only worried about removing the pink background on the left.

7
If there are areas that still need to be removes such as on the right side of this image, repeat the
proceeding steps. Because each image is unique, some will need several passes and some can be done
in a single pass. As you can see, this technique is very effective and the image can be dropped onto
any background. Look at the top left of the image to see how precise the cut out is on the detailed
feathers. Try that with the pen tool!

For more cool techniques like this on an easy to follow video format check out Photoshop Secrets For
Digital Photographers photoshopCD.com

Discuss this and other tutorials at our forum

tutorial-zee.com
Tutorials and Articles
 Home
 About

Tutorial Zee publishes photoshop, 3d studio max tutorials as well as the author writes
about money making techniques and blogging tips.
Search

Photoshop color mask effect tutorial

in photoshop
Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by 3dfun in Photoshop Tutorials

Hello my friends

Today i will show you how to create a Photoshop color mask effect tutorial in photoshop.

[1] Download the following image and open it photoshop.

[2] Take the shape tool select this one. Then create a shape.
[3] For this shape add the following layer styles.
[4] Now duplicate the background layer.

[5] Now select the orignal layer.

[6] Then go to Image>Adjustments>Desaturate.

[7] Cntl+Click the shape layer to get the selection.

[8] Take the “Magic Tool” after that Rasterize layer.

[9] Now just click inside the frame.

[10] Then select this layer.

[11] Now press Cntl+Shift+I to Inverse Selection.

Then hit the Delete key.
[12] Done!!!
adobe photoshop drawing

adobe photoshop effects

adobe photoshop text effects

Here is a show of how I do this in a very simple reversable way using a mask which is
one of the most I like in this program
because layer mask can be used to do approx. anything and in a very professional way ,
also it let you edit all your steps 100%

As you know if you erase a part of your image and after some steps want this part back
you must go to History palette and return to the erase step which will not be available if
you exceed history save allowed in preference 20 , 50 , ... steps ,
and also will not be available to you if you save and close your psd as photoshop will
delete all the history steps ...

A professional way to edit steps is to use masks , meaning mask every step you do if
possiable , if you want to add filter mask it , mask levels , Contrast , Hue and Saturation ,
This way you can return to the mask layer and edit it any time without losing a single step
of your work .... I do this all time so when a client come to see his image and ask for
modifications you will not need to need to restart it .

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Now lets start this show

firat you open Photoshop

then open you photo ....

and apply a Hue and Saturation Mask using this small icon at the end of layer palette
now move the Saturation Slider to this value (-100) this will result in a desaturated image
( ofcourse there are more advanced ways to apply b/w effect to you image , use any
method you prefer But in a mask )
see there is a mask layer now above the image carring the desature effect while the image
itself still untouched .., this is what is awesome thing in using masks

Now use the erase tool to erase whatever you wish from the mask layer

In this example I want to show the whole image in black and white but the lips and the
small colored beads ( hope this is the right word )

so I started to erase these parts from the mask layer , you see they are in colors now

the above image shows that there is a part of her face returned to be colored too , this is a
mistake and using mask let me correct this very easy

all you have to do is switch foreground and background colors

with the same erase tool now use it over the mistaken part of the model face see it is back
now to black and white again

and the same way you do the lips or any other part you want to show the mask effect on
You can use this way in lots of ways to generate reversable effects and erased area in
your image as this tutorial showed it is the easy way also if you save this psd you can
after open it and start edit the mask as you wich , in order to show your iamge in colors
all you have to do is to hide the mask layer and the original image is not affected by the
applied filter ...

Even if you have different ideas about how the image can be you can do different mask
layers each with a different effect and save the whole psd meaning one psd file rather
than saving (number of ideas) PSDs which saves alot of mega bytes in your hard disk ,
and easy show you client all your ideas to select by only hide a mask layer and show
another one , this is easier for the client to view and select ..

here is the result of the image here

hope you like it

hazemmostafa
Photoshop Masking & Montage Tutorial — Using Masks To Improve
Landscape Images
Adapted from "Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills" by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews

Tutorial Work Files

You can download the images needed to work along with this tutorial. Visit Mark Galer's site (link
opens in a new window) for instructions on how to access them. The images are high resolution and
will make it easier to reproduce the exact effects from this tutorial.

Original Venice image by Craig Shell (sky by Mark Galer)

Drama in Venice
Venetian classical painters had a passion for moody and tempestuous skies (just Google the
Tempest by Giorgione to see one such example). I now find it hard to look at an image of Venice
with a featureless sky. The sky is an essential ingredient of any memorable landscape image.
Unfortunately it is not something the photographer can control unless we have limitless time and
patience. The commercial photographer is often required to deliver the goods on a day that suits
the client rather than the photographer and weather forecast.

In these instances it is worth building a personal stock library of impressive skies that can be
utilized to turn ordinary images with bland skies into impressive ones. The digital compact set to a
low ISO is ideal for capturing these fleeting moments. The most useful skies to collect are the ones
that include detail close to the horizon line, i.e. captured without interference from busy urban
skylines, such as can be found at the beach or in the desert.

A stock library of skies is included on the DVD of the new Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills book
(published by Focal Press) to help you start, or add to, your own collection. In this project we
explore how a sky can be adapted to fit the landscape so the montage is not immediately obvious.

Step 1
Select the Magic Wand Tool from the Tools palette and set the tolerance to 20 in the Options bar.
Select the Add to Selection icon in the Options bar or hold down the Shift key as you click multiple
times to select all of the sky. Zoom in to 100% or ‘Actual Pixels’ and select Quick Mask mode from
the Tools palette.

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to select the tops of the buildings that were not included in the mask
because the Magic Wand may have become over zealous. Fill this selection with black (if Black is the
foreground color in the Tools palette you may use the keyboard shortcut
Alt/Option+backspace/delete). Exit Quick mask Mode when this work is finished (keyboard shortcut
is to press the letter Q).
Step 2
Open the Sky image used in this project and from the Select menu choose All. From the Edit menu
choose Copy. Return to the Venice image and from the Edit menu choose Paste Into. Don’t be
alarmed at how bad it looks at the moment, we have several more steps to go before things start to
look OK. For the moment we must be content that the sky was captured at a similar time of day to
the Venice image and the direction of light is also similar. From the Select menu choose Deselect.

Step 3
Make sure the Image rather than the mask is the active component of the layer and then choose
Free Transform from the Edit menu (Ctrl/Command+T). Click and drag inside the Transform
bounding box to raise the sky into position. Click and drag on the top-center handle to further
enhance the location and shape of the sky to fit the host image. Press the Enter/Return key to
commit the transformation.
Step 4
Click on the layer mask to make it active and then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Choose a 1-
pixel Radius in the Gaussian Blur dialog box and select OK. Go to Filter > Other > Maximum and
enter a Radius of 2-pixels. This should be sufficient to remove any light halo from around the edges
of the buildings. Select OK to apply these changes to the mask.

Step 5
Hold down the Alt/Option key and select a Curves adjustment layer from the Create new fill or
adjustment layer icon in the Layers palette. In the New Layer dialog box check the Use Previous
Layer to Create Clipping Mask option. Select OK to open the Curves dialog box. Create a curve that
renders both the highlights and midtones of the sky very bright so that they match the tones of the
distant buildings. Skies that have been captured in less humid conditions will always require this
adjustment if they are look at home in a location where there is reduced contrast together with
lighter tones in the distant subject matter. Select OK to apply the changes.
Step 6
Select the Gradient Tool from the Tools palette. In the Options bar choose the Black, White and
Linear gradient options and an Opacity setting of 100%. Click and drag a gradient from the top of
the image to a position just above the horizon line. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the
gradient. This will give the sky depth and ensure the sky retains it drama above the buildings in the
foreground.

Step 7
Create a second Curves adjustment layer by holding down the Alt/Option key and adding this layer
to the Clipping mask. The purpose of this second adjustment layer is to increase the intensity of the
light on the left side of the image. This will help establish the light source that is bathing the
buildings on the right side of the image in a warm afternoon glow and help establish a realistic
effect.

Raise the overall brightness using the RGB channel and increase the warmth using the individual
Red and Blue channels. Observe the effect above the foreground buildings on the left side of the
image. When you have achieved a warm glow select OK.
Step 8
Fill the layer mask with Black (Edit > Fill > Black). Select the Gradient Tool from the Tools palette.
Select the Black, White and Radial options. Set the mode to Screen and select the Reverse
checkbox in the Options bar. Drag a short gradient from behind the buildings on the left side of the
image to the top-center of the image.
Step 9
Select the top layer in the layers palette and then stamp the visible layers to a new layer (Select >
Select all, Edit > Copy Merged and Edit > Paste). Go to Filter > Distort > Lens Correction. Go to the
Vignette section of the dialog box and lower the Amount slider to -100. Raise the Midpoint slider
slightly so that the vignette does not encroach too heavily on the buildings on the extreme right-
hand side of the image.

Select OK to apply these changes. Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen. Be generous with the
amount and keep the radius small (under 1 pixel). The project is now complete and the scene
carries all the mood of an old Venetian painting courtesy of a dramatic sky.
 Here's how to make a vector file look like you've used a mask in
Photoshop.

This tip is based on a project I was working on using masks in Photoshop for a magazine cover. I decided to
try the same effect in Illustrator for a logo I was designing.

I have used typography in this example, but you could apply this look to an object as well.

Here we go!

The first thing you will want to do is create some text using the TEXT TOOL.

Now make your type outlines by going to TYPE>CREATE OUTLINES in your menu bar, making the letters
into objects.

Note: You will not be able to edit your typography after making outlines, so be sure you have it the way you
want it before creating outlines.
Now select your text and drag it down while holding down SHIFT and OPTION(MAC)/ALT(PC) to create a
copy of your text that is aligned with the original text. See below:

The next step is to flip the text using the REFLECT TOOL.

With the bottom copy of your text selected, choose the REFLECT TOOL from your TOOLBAR .

With the REFLECT TOOL as your active tool, hold down SHIFT, click to the left of the text and drag straight
down. This will cause the text to flip vertically, giving you this result:

Go back to your SELECTION TOOL , hold down SHIFT and mo ve the bottom text to where it is almost
touching the original text, like so:
Fill the text with a gradient by clicking on the gradient swatch in the GRADIENT PALETTE.

In your GRADIENT PALETTE, set the angle to 90 and move the GRADIENT SLIDER (the diamond above
the gradient bar) to the right.

Yielding this result:

Finally, click on the black GRADIENT SWATCH and set the black to 50% in your COLOR PALETTE.

The end result should look something like this:

AND IT'S ENTIRELY VECTOR!!

Note: If you have another color other than white for the background, simply substitute the background color
for white in the GRADIENT PALETTE. Here's an example using red as the background color:

And there you have it!