Don't let an ugly background keep you from taking a beautiful image!
Aug 12, 2016 18:58:24 #
I'm using Photoshop Elements 12.
First crop your image. Then click on Create A New Layer in the Layer's Pallet. Click on the Paint Bush tool and make sure you set the foreground color to black. Set opacity to 100% and paint out whatever you want to get rid of. If you make a mistake, use the layer mask to fix it by going from black to white. When you're happy with what you see, click on the Alt, Ctrl, shift and E keys to create a new layer. Now you're ready to add filters and other effects to finish your masterpiece.
First crop your image. Then click on Create A New Layer in the Layer's Pallet. Click on the Paint Bush tool and make sure you set the foreground color to black. Set opacity to 100% and paint out whatever you want to get rid of. If you make a mistake, use the layer mask to fix it by going from black to white. When you're happy with what you see, click on the Alt, Ctrl, shift and E keys to create a new layer. Now you're ready to add filters and other effects to finish your masterpiece.
Aug 12, 2016 19:20:10 #
Snap Shot wrote:
I fully support Topics like these that show how one can change their images significantly, to the point where they actually create "appeal". I encourage others to follow in Snap Shot's footsteps. As I told someone else, I'd dearly love to foster a collegial environment where we can share our PP "discoveries" with one another. We both agree that we hope all our users will eventually create their own creative style and not copy ours verbatim (and we might not tell you everything we know). I hope to see more of this in the coming months.I'm using Photoshop Elements 12. br First crop you... (show quote)
Aug 12, 2016 20:02:00 #
Thank you for posting this, Bill. I had a bit of a struggle learning layers and layer masks, was helped along by Bob, Randy/Treepusher and other generous UHH folks - and am so glad I stuck with it! Endless opportunities for playtime 
Aug 12, 2016 20:34:39 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Interesting point Linda. I've just upgraded to the latest version of Paint Shop Pro, PSP X9 Ultimate. I've been talking with Pierre Dumais who uses that as his main editing piece of software. I told him that I would teach myself how to do layers and masks in PSP X9 so I could show him how to do it, and boy! has that been a trip. The interface is significantly different from Adobe, and while the principals are the same, the tools are vastly different.Thank you for posting this, Bill. I had a bit of a struggle learning layers and layer masks, was helped along by Bob, Randy/Treepusher and other generous UHH folks - and am so glad I stuck with it! Endless opportunities for playtime
Aug 13, 2016 11:12:18 #
Aug 13, 2016 11:23:24 #
Pierre H.J. Dumais wrote:
Hey neat!
Thanks Bill.
pierre
Thanks Bill.
pierre
Thank you Pierre for stopping by!
Aug 13, 2016 11:35:36 #
Snap Shot wrote:
I'm using Photoshop Elements 12. br First crop you... (show quote)
This was really helpful! Thanks!
Aug 13, 2016 11:45:06 #
drmarty wrote:
This was really helpful! Thanks!
drmarty, thank you and I'm glad this may have helped you in some way.
Aug 13, 2016 11:51:53 #
Thanks for posting these and the subsequent tutorial Snap Shot, this is exactly what I was talking about in an earlier reply to you. I really appreciate what is going on here. Great job btw.
Aug 13, 2016 12:40:16 #
jwt wrote:
Thanks for posting these and the subsequent tutorial Snap Shot, this is exactly what I was talking about in an earlier reply to you. I really appreciate what is going on here. Great job btw.
Jim, that's what Bob, Carol and I had hoped it would be like! Eager Beavers helping Eager Beavers.
Aug 13, 2016 13:11:37 #
Snap Shot wrote:
Jim, that's what Bob, Carol and I had hoped it would be like! Eager Beavers helping Eager Beavers.
Aug 13, 2016 16:15:19 #
Thanks Bill for sharing this information!!!! I need to print this out right now, you know me, I forget everything!!
Aug 13, 2016 19:24:25 #
Aug 13, 2016 19:40:10 #
angela k wrote:
Thanks Bill for sharing this information!!!! I need to print this out right now, you know me, I forget everything!!
Angela, it's not that hard once you try it a couple of times. I do this with many of my photos and it only takes a minute or two. The advantage is never having to worry about a bad background as long as the subject is in relatively good shape to start with. And even that doesn't need to be perfect.
Aug 13, 2016 19:40:49 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
Beautiful example of processing at its best, Bill.
Thank you donna... very much appreciated!
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