Video University: Video University Forums: Adobe Photoshop for Video: fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks?

VideoUniversity.com
Home	Free Library	Store
Free Catalog Please support VU by making your B&H purchases and links through this B&H ad. Doesn't cost a penny more.

See The New VU Postcard Catalog

To post in the forums see the Forum Guidelines.

Join or Renew Today.
New Benefits for all VU Members

Forum Guidelines and FAQ
Main Index	Search Posts
Who's Online	Log In

Home: Video University Forums: Adobe Photoshop for Video:
fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks?

Tim J
User

Mar 15, 2005, 5:51 PM

Post #1 of 17 (8361 views)
Shortcut

fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks?	Can't Post

What is the fastest/easiest/best way to cut out someone or something in Photoshop CS? I always use the lasso tool and it just seems to take forever. Any tips or tricks to speed up the process would be appreciated.

Tim

Dieps
User

Mar 15, 2005, 7:16 PM

Post #2 of 17 (8350 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Try the Magnetic Lasso. It magnetically sticks to the object so it is easier for me. You can find it by clicking and holding the left mouse button on the lasso tool then pick the Magnetic Lasso. My PS learning curve is still straight up so there might be any number of better hints than this one.

Jim

PD-170, VX-2000 (2), TRV-900
Sony Wireless, iRiver, Mini Discs, other stuff
Canon 20D with some lenses

Lance Gray
User

Mar 15, 2005, 11:04 PM

Post #3 of 17 (8335 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Lasso tools, but also a nice "non-destructive" way is to add a mask to your layer, then use black to "erase" away the areas around your photo/object. Using white on the mask brings back areas -- which means that if you ever erase too much with black, simply change your brush to white and bring back the erased area. I use this technique on almost a daily basis within Photoshop.

All my best,

Lance Gray
PixelPops Design
Dallas, Texas

sal
Enthusiast

Mar 16, 2005, 1:22 AM

Post #4 of 17 (8319 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree with lance. Use masks. It's not neccesarily easier but it's always better to use non-destructive methods when you can.

My suggestion is for you to learn photoshop's selection tools well. This includes, the pen tool(you can convert a path into a selection), extract filter, magic wand, masks, color range.

Also learn about color channels and alpha channels.

(This post was edited by sal on Mar 17, 2005, 3:41 AM)

maretedkatie
New User

Mar 16, 2005, 11:17 PM

Post #5 of 17 (8275 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have used adobe and a real inexpensive program, microsoft Picture it 7. version 7 has a cut out feature that uses portable network graphics, or the PNG files. Enlarge the subject A LOT, so the face only shows the jaw line on screen, start cutting by making lots of very short lines. See http://www.dvdhomevideoeditor.com/..._4_SlidesPhotos.html
for pictures I cut out using picture it interface in less than 2 minutes. Enlarge the picture shown to see detail I achieved fast.

TimK
User

Mar 17, 2005, 8:01 AM

Post #6 of 17 (8263 views)
Shortcut

Re: [maretedkatie] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I too use masks for this. They are my favorite PS tool. It will help if you create some custom brushes. I usually dont like cutting out with a 100% hard brush, it will look cut out. I use a brush that is just slightly softer. I also have a brush even softer than that for hair. The default soft brushes are too soft for that. In case you dont know, you only need to create 1 brush size with the softness you want and use the bracket keys on the keyboard to toggle the brush size.

Xray
Veteran

Apr 7, 2005, 2:09 PM

Post #7 of 17 (8042 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Filter/Extract Wink

If you have any problems... let me know so I can walk you through it.
Goodl luck!

Marcin
_______________________________________________________________
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.

(This post was edited by Xray on Apr 7, 2005, 2:11 PM)

Storm Crow
Veteran

Apr 25, 2005, 11:20 AM

Post #8 of 17 (7847 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Xray] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Filter/Extract Wink

If you have any problems... let me know so I can walk you through it.
Goodl luck!

Absolutely the filter extract method! I used to use the magnetic lasso tool but the filter extract is so much faster and does a better job in my opinion. My 12 year old son showed me how to do it and it is so easy!
_________________________________________________

Good Friend, around these hearth stones, speak no evil of any creature.

Warning: Exposure to the Son can prevent burn!
_________________________________________________

joefoxman
Novice

Jun 2, 2005, 2:24 PM

Post #9 of 17 (7435 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Tim:

There is also a great plug in from Corel called KnockOut. You can find out more about it at the following URL:

http://www.corel.com/...mp;pid=1047022702205

It has more options and does a better job than the Filter/Extract that comes with Photoshop CS

Have fun,

Joey

wootan
Novice

Mar 30, 2006, 5:19 AM

Post #10 of 17 (6264 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have watched many a newbie graphic designer use the magnetic lasso tool, and lost my mind watching how slow the process is to complete. My best approach has been to use the pen tool and draw in the path you want to cut out, and then copied and pasted into a new document, or you can save the image (for print work) as an EPS including the work path that you drew, and then when you import the image into QuarkXpress or InDesign, the path will be saved and your image will be "cut out" for graphic design work. This method does not affect your image if you save the EPS, and makes life a bit easier if you just want to cut the background out of the image and then paste it into a new Ps document for other manipulation.

I hope this helps.

WOOTAN

videochicke
Veteran

Mar 30, 2006, 7:15 PM

Post #11 of 17 (6232 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Tim J] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I also use masks. What is nice is if you make a mistake with "black", you just undo it by painting over it with "white", and vise versa. You can use a selection tool to get you started, such as the magic wand and fine tune it with a mask.
Julie

videochicke
Veteran

Mar 31, 2006, 11:01 AM

Post #12 of 17 (6215 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Xray] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Filter/Extract Wink

If you have any problems... let me know so I can walk you through it.
Goodl luck!

Wow--didn't even know what that did until this post. Just played with it. It really works well!!!
Julie

arkychevyboy
User

Mar 31, 2006, 11:50 AM

Post #13 of 17 (6213 views)
Shortcut

Re: [videochicke] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I must have a setting wrong or just plain don't know how to use the filter/extract. Everytime I try to use it, it willnot get all of the person/thing I'm trying to extract or it will have small pieces of the background included around the edges.

Any idea on what I'm doing wrong?

arkychevyboy

arkychevyboy

Xray
Veteran

Mar 31, 2006, 5:01 PM

Post #14 of 17 (6206 views)
Shortcut

Re: [videochicke] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Glad I could help Julie. Wink

Marcin
_______________________________________________________________
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.

harman
User

Apr 9, 2006, 2:13 AM

Post #15 of 17 (5917 views)
Shortcut

Re: [arkychevyboy] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is what you are looking for with regards on how to create a mask using the extract method:

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Click on the Advanced Background Extraction quicktime file or Advanced Masking, and here are the transcribed steps to the step by step video:

EXTRACTION

Draw path around object with either pen tool or the polygonal lasso tool.
Select Paths Palette -> at bottom of palette, select create path from selection.
Select Channels Palette -> Create new channel
On the new alpha channel, CTRL + I to invert the alpha channel.
Use a paintbrush to stroke the path. Select the paint brush size (4pt); Mode � Normal; Hardness � 96%; click enter or select the stroke path with brush at bottom of Paths Palette (this step softens the edge with a little bit of anti-aliasing)
Select Layers palette; verify a background copy exists; and select it
Filter -> Extract -> select Alpha channel 1 that was made
Add areas of contrast around the edge, then select Fill to fill the image that you want to keep

Select the newly create invisible transparent mask by selecting the layer and clicking the control key (CTRL click on newly extracted image)
Turn on original image (Background), turn off the background copy
Duplicate background copy one more time
With the new background layer directly under the newly extracted image and with the new background layer selected, Select->ADD VECTOR MASK at bottom of palette
Clean up new mask by painting with black � areas that were not defined well by the extraction
To adjust the mask globally, target the mask by clicking on it and then bring up the levels control
Turn on mask with alt click to see it with levels
Target the mask and select the BLUR tool (not blurring the image, but blurring the mask)

arkychevyboy
User

Apr 9, 2006, 11:34 AM

Post #16 of 17 (5914 views)
Shortcut

Re: [harman] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks harmon.

Some great tutorials on that page, glad you showed it to me.

arkychevyboy

arkychevyboy

JohnnyEaker
User

Apr 30, 2006, 8:07 PM

Post #17 of 17 (5671 views)
Shortcut

Re: [arkychevyboy] fastest way to cut someone out?? any tricks? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ditto to the Magnetic Lasso.

Johnny Eaker
Creative Studios