How to Cut Out an Image in Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

(Last updated on August 29th, 2023)

Summary

• This article explains what is a cutout and why it is useful for creative projects, and how to cut out an image in Photoshop using different methods and techniques.
• To cut out an image in Photoshop, you need to select the area you want to isolate with a selection tool, create a layer mask from the selection, and refine the edges of the mask with refine edge.
• You can use different tools and techniques to make and edit your selection and mask, such as quick selection, magic wand, lasso, pen, object selection, brush, refine edge, and more.
• You can also use some tips and tricks to enhance your cutout quality and efficiency, such as using non-destructive editing, hidden features or shortcuts, and creative ways to use cutouts for different purposes or effects.

Have you ever wanted to create a stunning collage, a beautiful poster, or a cool logo using different images? If so, you probably need to know how to cut out an image in Photoshop. Cutting out an image means removing the background or any unwanted parts of an image and isolating the subject or object you want to use. This way, you can place the cutout on a different background or combine it with other images to create amazing compositions.

There are different ways to cut out an image in Photoshop, such as using selection tools, layer masks, and refine edge. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type and quality of the image you are working with. In this article, you will learn how to use these methods and what are the best practices for making perfect cutouts in Photoshop. You will also learn what is non-destructive editing and why it is important for preserving the original image quality and flexibility.

How to Use Selection Tools to Make a Cutout

The first step to cut out an image in Photoshop is to make a selection. A selection is a way of defining the area of an image that you want to keep or discard. You can think of it as drawing a border around the part of the image you want to cut out. Photoshop has various selection tools that you can use to make different kinds of selections, such as quick selection, magic wand, lasso, pen, and object selection.

Quick Selection Tool

The quick selection tool is one of the easiest and fastest ways to make a selection in Photoshop. It works by automatically detecting the edges of an object based on color and contrast. To use it, simply click and drag over the area you want to select. The tool will create a selection that follows the shape of the object. You can adjust the size and hardness of the brush by using the bracket keys ([ and ]) on your keyboard.

For better navigation during this process, it’s also useful to know how to zoom in on Photoshop.

The quick selection tool is ideal for images that have a clear distinction between the foreground and background, such as solid colors or simple patterns. However, it may not work well for images that have complex or similar backgrounds, such as hair, fur, feathers, or grass.

Magic Wand Tool

The magic wand tool is another easy way to make a selection in Photoshop. It works by selecting pixels that have similar colors or tones. To use it, simply click on a pixel that represents the color you want to select. The tool will create a selection that includes all the adjacent pixels that have the same or similar color. You can adjust the tolerance level of the tool by using the slider in the options bar. The higher the tolerance, the more pixels will be selected.

The magic wand tool is ideal for images that have large areas of uniform colors or tones, such as skies, walls, or water. However, it may not work well for images that have variations or gradients of colors or tones, such as shadows, highlights, or textures.

Lasso Tool

The lasso tool is a manual way to make a selection in Photoshop. It works by letting you draw a freehand outline around the area you want to select. To use it, simply click and drag along the edges of the object you want to cut out. The tool will create a selection that follows your cursor movement. You can close the selection by either connecting back to the starting point or releasing the mouse button.

The lasso tool is ideal for images that have irregular or curved shapes that are difficult to select with other tools. However, it may not work well for images that require precise or smooth selections, as it depends on your hand-eye coordination and mouse control.

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Pen Tool

The pen tool is another manual way to make a selection in Photoshop. It works by letting you draw a vector path around the area you want to select. To use it, simply click on a point along the edge of the object you want to cut out. The tool will create an anchor point that connects to the previous point with a straight line segment. You can create curved segments by clicking and dragging on a point to adjust its direction and length. You can close the path by either connecting back to the starting point or pressing Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Return (Mac) on your keyboard.

How to draw a line in Photoshop can help you understand the basic mechanics of this tool.

The pen tool is ideal for images that have sharp or smooth edges that require high accuracy and precision. However, it may not work well for images that have complex or fuzzy edges that require multiple adjustments and corrections.

Object Selection Tool

The object selection tool is one of the newest and most advanced ways to make a selection in Photoshop. It works by using artificial intelligence to automatically detect and select objects in an image based on their shape and context. To use it, simply click and drag over the area that contains the object you want to select. The tool will create a selection that matches the outline of the object. You can choose between two modes: rectangle and lasso. The rectangle mode creates a rectangular marquee around the area you drag, while the lasso mode creates a freehand marquee around the area you drag.

The object selection tool is ideal for images that have multiple or complex objects that are difficult to select with other tools. However, it may not work well for images that have low contrast or resolution, as it may not recognize the objects correctly.

How to Use Layer Masks to Create a Cutout

Once you have made a selection, the next step is to create a cutout using a layer mask. If you need to make adjustments, it’s also useful to know how to resize a layer in Photoshop. A layer mask is a way of hiding or revealing parts of an image without deleting or altering them. You can think of it as applying a black and white filter over an image. The black areas of the filter hide the corresponding parts of the image, while the white areas reveal them. The gray areas create a partial transparency effect.

To create a cutout using a layer mask, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your image is on its own layer and not the background layer. If not, right-click on the layer and choose Layer from Background.
2. With your selection active, click on the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. This will create a layer mask that matches your selection. You should see a thumbnail of the layer mask next to the thumbnail of the image in the Layers panel.
3. To view the cutout result, you can either hide or delete the background layer, or place another layer below your image layer.
4. To edit the layer mask, you can use the brush tool and black and white colors. Painting with black will hide parts of the image, while painting with white will reveal them. You can also use other tools or filters that affect grayscale values, such as gradient, blur, or sharpen.

Using a layer mask to create a cutout is a non-destructive editing technique, which means that you can always go back and change your selection or mask without affecting the original image. This gives you more flexibility and control over your cutout quality and appearance.

How to Use Refine Edge to Fine-Tune a Cutout

Sometimes, making a selection and creating a layer mask may not be enough to create a perfect cutout. You may still have some unwanted pixels or jagged edges around your cutout that make it look unnatural or unrealistic. This is especially common for images that have complex or fuzzy edges, such as hair, fur, feathers, or grass. To fix these issues, you can use refine edge to fine-tune your cutout.

Refine edge is a feature in Photoshop that allows you to smooth and enhance the edges of your cutout by adjusting various parameters, such as radius, smooth, feather, contrast, and shift edge. To use refine edge, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your image layer has a layer mask and is selected in the Layers panel.
2. Click on the Select and Mask button in the options bar. This will open the refine edge dialog box.
3. In the refine edge dialog box, you can use different tools and options to improve your cutout edges. Some of the most important ones are:
   • The brush tool: This tool lets you paint over the edges of your cutout to refine them. It works by detecting the colors and textures of your image and creating a more accurate selection based on them.
   • The radius slider: This slider lets you adjust how far Photoshop looks for edges around your cutout. The higher the radius, the more pixels will be included in the refinement process.
   • The smooth slider: This slider lets you smooth out any jagged or rough edges around your cutout. The higher the smoothness, the more rounded and soft your edges will be.
   • The feather slider: This slider lets you create a soft transition between your cutout and its background. The higher the feathering, the more blurred and faded your edges will be.
   • The contrast slider: This slider lets you increase or decrease the contrast between your cutout and its background. The higher the contrast, the more defined and sharp your edges will be.
   • The shift edge slider: This slider lets you move your cutout edges inward or outward. The higher the shift edge, the more pixels will be added or subtracted from your cutout.
4. You can also change the output settings and preview modes of your refine edge result by using the buttons and menus at the bottom of the dialog box.
5. When you are satisfied with your refine edge result, click on OK to apply it to your layer mask.

Using refine edge to fine-tune your cutout can make a huge difference in how realistic and natural your cutout looks. It can help you remove any unwanted pixels or artifacts around your cutout and create smoother and cleaner edges.

Photoshop Cutout Tips and Tricks

Now that you know how to use selection tools, layer masks, and refine edge to fine-tune your cutout, you are ready to create amazing compositions with your cutout images. One thing to remember while working with heavy files is how much RAM do you need for Photoshop to ensure smooth operation. However, before you do that, here are some tips and tricks that can help you make your cutouts even better:

• Use non-destructive editing techniques. Non-destructive editing means that you can always go back and change your selection or mask without affecting the original image. This gives you more flexibility and control over your cutout quality and appearance. To use non-destructive editing, make sure your image is on its own layer and not the background layer, and use layer masks instead of erasing or deleting parts of the image.
• Use hidden features or shortcuts to save time and improve accuracy. Photoshop has many hidden features or shortcuts that can make your selection or masking process easier and faster. For example, you can use the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key to switch between add and subtract modes when using selection tools, or use the Shift key to add to or subtract from an existing selection. You can also use the Quick Mask mode to edit your selection or mask using painting tools, or use the Select Subject command to automatically select the main subject of an image.
• Use creative ways to use cutouts for different purposes or effects. Cutouts are not only useful for creating collages or posters, but also for creating various artistic or fun effects. For example, you can use cutouts to create silhouettes, shadows, reflections, pop art, double exposure, or surrealism. You can also use cutouts to create text effects, such as filling text with an image or wrapping text around an image.

Conclusion

Cutting out an image in Photoshop is a skill that can help you unleash your creativity and imagination. By knowing how to use selection tools, layer masks, and refine edge, you can create perfect cutouts that match your vision and purpose. You can also use some tips and tricks to improve your cutout quality and efficiency, as well as to explore different ways to use cutouts for various effects.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to cut out an image in Photoshop.

Thank you for reading this article and happy cutting! 😊

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)