photoshop question

[evil step mom]

I am new to this program and I have tried looking in help but that isn't so user friendly.

I know this may be a difficult task but I can't even find a tutorial on this. I would like to try to take a person out of one picture and put them in another, any help, or any suggestions on where to look for help would be so greatly appreciated!!!

K

[Amanda]

There are a few different tutorials in our tutorials section on extracting from a background. That should get you started.

[Emma]

I like using the Magnetic Lasso Tool, hidden under the regular Lasso Tool.

Click, click, click around what you want to extract. Then Selection>Feather about 2 or 3 pixels. Then Edit>Copy.

Go to your new image and Edit>Paste to put it on. Takes practice, do it several times, be patient. Don't expect to use the first few attempts, just take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the process and avoiding jagged edges.

Let us know how it goes!

[andyapc]

Emma - when is it preferable to use the magnetic lasso as opposed to the regular lasso or the extraction filter?

[Emma]

Regular lasso is when you don't care where the edge is exactly, like just grabbing a chunk of something, an object on a transparent background, creating torn edge of paper, etc, the Lasso is the choice.

The Magnetic Lasso is for exactness, when you want something to snap to a specific edge

The Extract filter is for people who don't hate it, not being me :D I'm good with the Mag Lasso, and not with the filter.
I think, someday, the filter has more options that I'd like to learn to use, but I'm still hunting for that time buried in my back yard. I think it's taking more time to dig up than it'll yield, and in the meantime my yard looks like it has a mole infestation!

[evil step mom]

wow, you guys are quick.

I was looking to make things more difficult then necessary because I did catch on to copy and paste but I will check out the tutorials for extra help, thanks amanda!!! I used regular lasso but I'll try your idea emma!! Thanks for the help

[andyapc]

The Magnetic Lasso is for exactness, when you want something to snap to a specific edge


Emma - I've got the same question as I asked in another thread - when I'm clicking away on my magnetic lasso tool, and I have to scroll down/sideways on my image, how do I keep what I've already selected? It disappears as soon as I start to scroll. I usually go to View>Actual pixels so that I can zoom in really close to see what I'm doing, but that means my entire image is not on my screen.

[Emma]

it shouldn't deselect. I just keep dragging, and it'll scroll and keep selecting. On slower computers sometimes the whole thing goes white when scrolling and thinks for awhile, but it'll come back allowing you to continue.

You can just double click anytime to close the selection, then scroll and continue using the Add to Selection.

[Starling]

I'm not an expert. I've been reading about making selections, however, and you should be able to add to and subtract from (and even do intersect selections) with all of the selection tools. Look at the option bar at the top of the Photoshop window and run your mouse over them to see what they say. There are also keyboard shortcuts so you can switch from one to the other.

Now I know how to do this intellectually, and can even describe it. Actually doing it is another matter. :rolleyes: We both need to learn to do that.

[andyapc]

OK - I tried using my magnetic lasso (which, by the way, was my first time using it and WOW - is that ever easier than the regular lasso tool!!).

I am obviously doing something very wrong and I really feel like an idiot about now.

I clicked to the right edge of my canvas and I tried moving my lasso a little over the edge so that my image would automatically scroll to the left. It did, but it did so incredibly fast that my selection got completely messed up. I tried several times, both scrolling sideways and up/down - each time, as soon as magnetic lasso tool hits the edge of my canvas, it scrolls at supersonic speed!

For instance, I'm working at actual pixel size so that I can get an accurate selection. I'm trying to extract a person. I'm clicking away on his shoulder, which hits the right edge of the canvas. I know at some point, I will have to click downwards to select his arm - I'm unsure how far I've got left of the shoulder. My magnetic lasso hits the right edge of the canvas and is a split second, my image has scrolled way over to the left and he's completely off the canvas.

How in the world do you get it scroll slowly so that you don't mess up your selection? Is there anyway to use some sort of keyboard shortcut to switch to your handtool to adjust/scroll your image that way, and then revert back to your magnetic lasso without affecting your selection?

Why is this so hard for me? :confused: :(

[Meryl]

If you want to zoom in close using the magnetic lassoo - which you usually do - any time you want to mave to a part with is off screen press shift & it will temporarily turn to a hand so you can move your page, release shift & back to the lassoo. Another tip I found by accident - it is much easier to see the "hot spot" if you have caps lock ON when using it.
Hope this helps!

[Angie]

Meryl, those are wonderful tips..... I did not know about the shift key. Very useful tip... thanks!!

[Starling]

What great hints. I've seen the shift hint, although I always seem to forget it when I need it, but I've never seen the caps lock hint before. I've got to try that.