Hi guys, I scanned a couple of ribbons with hopes of turning them into clip art. After testing and seeing how they looked, I concluded that they have real potential to be real cute, so you can expect to see a ribbon download in the near future.
One more thing… Quite a few of you have requested a tutorial about extracting/removing backgrounds from your photos. So, I made a screencast showing how I do it.
Disclaimer: My Photoshop knowledge is self-taught and although my methods work, they may not be the “right” way or the most efficient way. I know that there are better ways to do background extractions. For example, Photoshop has an extraction tool (that I’ve never been able to figure out) and CS5 allegedly has an easier way to do extractions. Anyhow, if you see any egregious errors, please make a tutorial and show me the right way to do it… I would appreciate it! :)
In this screencast, you will learn about:
- object extraction / background removal
- layer mask basics
- partial layer opacity with masks
- selection with the magic wand tool
- layer styles (ie. drop shadows and borders)
Thank you for the music, Noel Stephen & the Darlings!
{ 27 comments }
Simple yet fascinating to watch. Great catch on the transparency of the pink ribbon. I would be tempted to leave the shadow, or add a Photoshop shadow on the part that you removed. Just me being picky. ;-)
Hehe, I love your voice. Kinda feels like I’m listening to NPR on photoshop tips. :) Love this tutorial, btw. I am also photoshop-self-taught and always had the most trouble with masks. I FINALLY understand it now. Thanks!
This is so wonderful. I always really enjoy learning about the various things that you make, and super appreciate the fact that you take the time to teach us rather than just giving away free clips. It really allows me to use the ones you create in addition to comparing them/trying to make them on my own. LOVE IT!
@Maddie: Yay, I’m happy you enjoyed it and learned something. :)
@Jenny N: Thanks — NPR LOL! It took me Wed afternoon and and all day Thursday to stitch that recording together and I didn’t finish until midnight. By then I sound hoarse — and sound like a man. Ha! :D So, the screencast is a culmination of different recordings pasted together.
@JeanCarl: Good catch on the drop shadow, man!
I love the ribbons, so cute! And thanks as always for so much information!
i love these photoshop tutorials!! thanks!!
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hey katrina!! thanks for another video :) :) i’ll be watching it later. yah background removal has always pained me. i’ve talked to lots of people who know photoshop better than me and haven’t gotten a lot of great answers. i think there is a way to change the levels radically or something like that then use the magic wand tool. for me – i just use magnetic lasso if the wand tool doesn’t work. so it’s painstaking but if you zoom in super close the end results can be quite good (except for shadows if it’s on white, you gotta paint around those).
i’ve got my fingers crossed you’ll find the holy grail of background removal and share with us here :)
Thanks again for the great tutorial! I’m learning so much from you (or trying anyway!) :)
i always love your tutorials! and this one is no exception! love the music in this one, and i learned something too even though i studied graphic design at school..! i love the black conceal/white reveal/gray semi-transparency trick, never knew that one. thanks for sharing!
WOW! I did learn something new! Didn’t know about grey! That’s so cool! And, again, thanks for taking the time to make this tutorial!
xo, sam
I loved this. I knew about layer masks, but had no clue with the gray. I love that my world is no longer just back and white. I also never thought of using a mask to take out backgrounds. This is way easier than what I learned at a very long boring conference a couple years ago.
Thanks again! As usual, the best!
this is a great way to subtract the background & your opacity with masks is wonderful. with cs5 i use the quick selection tool / refine edge to eliminate backgrounds. the downside being it that not everyone has cs5. your way is a very nice detailed way & i believe that even photoshop element people will benefit from it :D
you have such attention to detail that it really gives an outstanding result to your work. & of course, thanks so much for all the great tutorials. i’m always amazed at the ease & flow of your screencasts. :)
Wow, I just realized I’ve been doing things the hard way! I learned so much from this. Thank you for another great tutorial, and for playing our song, too!
Lovely work and thanks for the tutorial! My photoshop knowledge is self taught as well, but I don’t mind learning new tips from other pro’s, hehe.
Thanks so much Katrina…. another fantastic tutorial, I’ve learnt so much from you.
That’s excellent! Thanks for showing this. Have recently found your site and am looking forward to checking out your previous tips and techniques.
Hey, Katrina nice walk through. Gonna try ASAP!!
love this tutorial!
thank you for spending so much time and effort on it…
had no idea about the grey trick!
super — i’m happy you guys learned something from this tut. :D
Thank you! This is awesome. It’s something I’ve always wanted to know how to do. You’ve been bookmarked.
Thank you for that tutorial. I never you could use gray for transparency.
I love this site and am always so excited you see what you come up with next!!
This is super cool! I look forward to use this in future posts :)
Thanks for the great tips :)
Thank you so much for the tutorial!
This is SO helpful! Thank you!
I LOVE your website! Thanks for the tips, tutorials and freebies – you’re all kinds of awesome in so many levels ;)
You have such a wonderful soothing voice Katrina :) Great tutorial too. Thanks for this1