Hi all :)
So let's say I want to use a picture of a coca-cola bottle from an image I found on the internet, or I take a pic of one... what is the best way to cut-it-out?
1) For instance, sometimes, the object is cut out of a white background and I want to use it on a black background... leaves a nasty outline :( - maybe its easier to take a pic of the object on a black background (which is what I usually do - but I don't feel like getting the camera out - besides, I then almost always need to touch up the photo)
and
2) how do I easily smooth the edges if a use the colour wand? before or after cutting out (Copy to clipboard)?
K - thanks :)
ps (i'm adding tags... but don't really know if I'm doing it right - pls comment) Thanks again ;)
Hi Don,
are you working directly on the Background, or on a duplicate of the Background as a separate layer? There several advantages to working on a layer (Object) with a clip mask and not directly on the Background:
There would be other advantages, but at this late hour my brain is not thinking straight. Here is a video which shows an image with several layers and clip masks. Take a look right at the end of the video how easy it is to add a new layer and copy a clip mask from another layer to it (by Alt+Dragging the clip mask to it). Talk about easy mask duplication!
I am glad if I helped in some way. At least your way of doing things is safe. I know some people who work directly on an image with no objects at all, and if they mess up they sometimes have to start again from scratch. By working on a separate object, at least you can bring details back from the underlying Background image, if necessary.
The biggest advantage to me of the layered and clip mask workflow is that you can place things above the main subject at any time and in one quick step hide the parts of those upper objects which would normally cover the main subject. In the video I demonstrated that by adding a new background above the main subject to show how quickly I could mask it from the subject. In reality, if I was adding a new "background" I would simply place it below the main subject object and would not have to add any masking at all.
Best regards,Brian.
Horseman said:I do copy and paste my image to a new layer before altering.
I forgot to mention....there is no need to copy and paste. Just click Ctrl+D and your background image is duplicated to a new object. This way you are not placing anything on the clipboard. You can duplicate an object the same way.
Thanks for the shortcut key tip, Brian.
Don
Horseman said: Thanks for the shortcut key tip, Brian. Don
You are most welcome Don!