How to cut an object in Photoshop?

Photomontage was born almost simultaneously with the appearance of the first photographs. To create such works, we had to resort to various tricks. For example, cut the desired fragment with scissors, paste on the photo, retouch and reshoot. Today all these actions can be done in "Photoshop" in just a few clicks. In this article, we'll show you how to cut and paste an object in Photoshop.

What makes this operation different in different versions of Adobe Photoshop

All the examples below will be performed in the latest versions of "Photoshop CC". However, they are suitable for earlier versions of Adobe Photoshop.

In order to learn how to cut and move an object in Photoshop, it's best to select an image for experiments on a black background.

Background Selection

When you cut out an object in Adobe Photoshop, you get a "hole". It is automatically filled with the background color. Obviously, such a result can not be considered satisfactory if it is a question of removing from the photograph the figure of the horse, imprinted against the background of the field and the sky. In our case, it's enough to choose black color - and the result will be perfect. To install it as a background, click on the bottom color box below the icons with the tools to the left of the working window. A window with a palette will open. In it you need to select a black square and click "OK".

Selection: option one

Before you cut out an object in Photoshop, you need to tell the program which part of the original image is being discussed. For this, Photoshop uses different tools. Since while the simplest case is being considered, we will select "Quick selection". This tool is suitable in cases when the color of the cut out object differs significantly from the background color, as the program will be able to automatically recognize and separate their pixels.

After you click on "Quick Selection", the cursor will appear as a circle with a cross in the center. Now you can click on the object until it is fully selected. If you accidentally "grab" the background, then you need to click on it with the left mouse button of the computer mouse, holding the Alt key pressed. In order for the selection to be more accurate, you can use the button to reduce the size of the brush located at the top. It is hidden behind the icon in the form of a dark dot with numbers. In addition, you can use the "Refine Edge" button. Clicking on it, you need to tick the "Smart radius" box in the appeared window, and move the "Radius" slider to the right up to 10 pixels. Once the result is satisfactory, you must click the "OK" button.

Moving

If you cut out an object in Photoshop you need in order to then paste it into another fragment of the same image, then it's easy enough. You need to select the "Move" tool, the icon of which is located at the top, in the left part of the working window. Then point the cursor at the selected object. Hold the left mouse button and drag it to the desired location.

Correction

No matter how carefully you cut out the object in Photoshop, the image may leave traces of its outline.

To avoid this, it is necessary to proceed as follows:

• After the object is selected, you need to right-click on the computer mouse;
• In the window of the appeared context menu select the item "Cut to a new layer";
• Go to the Layers panel;
• Click on the icon with the eye next to the new layer.

As a result, the object will be temporarily hidden, and only the background layer will be displayed on the screen. With it, you can erase the remnants of the outline using the Eraser tool. To cope with this task quickly, you need to increase the size of the brush (see above). Then the cursor that took the form of a circle, you need to drive to the place of the image where the object was, holding the left mouse button until the background blackens completely.

Having completed the removal of traces of the path, you need:

• Go to the Layers panel;
• Include layer with object.

If everything is done correctly, then the result is perfect.

Select object: option two

As already mentioned, in order to learn how to cut out an object in Photoshop, we specially chose the most primitive case with the image of an object on a smooth black background. But what if we are talking about a photo with a portrait of a man made against a background of a city or forest landscape? Consider how, in this case, you need to use "Photoshop" to delete the figure of the young man (see the example below) and paste it on another image. In order to successfully cope with this task, those who want to learn how to cut and save the object in Photoshop, you should be patient.

To achieve the best results, the "Magnetic Lasso" tool is used. To cut out the figure of a person, you need:

• Zoom to 100%;
• Click on the contour of the selected shape to have the first marker appear;
• Move the cursor along the line of the silhouette (new markers will appear along the way).

If the image is not clear, the selection may not be correct. To fix this situation, you can put the markers yourself. To do this, click the left mouse button. Care should be taken, as otherwise the last marker will automatically connect to the first one.

When the procedure is completed, the contour will turn into a moving dotted line.

How to delete a segment inside a selected path

Very often, especially when it comes to the figure of a person, on the marked section of the photo there may be areas with a background. For example, between the hand, embedded in the pocket of the trousers and the trunk.

You need to remove this area from the selection. I'll have to use the same instrument, "Magnetic Lasso". For this:

• Hold down the Alt key;
• Click the left mouse button on the silhouette of the extraneous segment on the image;
• Allocate it in the same way as before the human figure.

Edge refinement

Surely everyone saw on the Internet photojacks or works, whose authors are popularly called ironically as geniuses of "Photoshop". Most often they depict a person against the backdrop of the sights he dreams of seeing, or with a celebrity, which he will hardly ever be able to meet. Typically, these photos are made so clumsy that it's hard not to notice the fake and believe that this is a real image.

To your photo collages are not the subject of friends' jokes, before you cut the object in "Photoshop CS6", it is worthwhile mastering the technique of refinement of its edges. To do this, select the appropriate tool and remove all extraneous fragments from the selected silhouette of the person . To do this, we should mark the item "Smart radius" and increase its value, for example up to 5 pixels. In addition, you should set the amount of smoothing. In a particular case, it is better to choose it equal to 100% and complete the action by clicking on the "OK" button.

How to cut and paste an object in Photoshop

If the selected silhouette suits you completely, you can start creating a photo collage from this and other images.

To achieve this goal it is necessary:

• Click on the object with the right mouse button;
• In the context menu select "Cut to a new layer";
• Go to the Layers panel;
• Open a new image that should become the basis for a photo collage in Adobe Photoshop;
• On the Layers panel, move the cursor to the layer with the object that was selected;
• Click the left mouse button and continue to hold it;
• Drag this layer onto the open image, which should become the base of the collage.

How to reduce the cut out object in Photoshop

Very often it turns out that the fragment moved from the original photo looks on the final image as an alien spot, for example, because of the discrepancy in the dimensions. If the figure is too large, you need to reduce it. To do this, select any tool that belongs to the selection group, and right-click on the silhouette. Then, in the context menu, click on the item "Free transformation". Then around the figure there will be a frame with several markers, through which you can rotate the object, and also change its size. The easiest way to reduce the figure with the help of corner markers. However, you need to keep the Shift key pressed. Otherwise, the aspect ratio of the height to the width of the image will not be saved. The same mode also helps to move the object. To perform this action, you need to place the cursor closer to its center, and then hold down the left mouse button and release it when the selected shape is in the right place. At the end of all actions, the second click of the mouse on the object is performed.

How to remove background

In some cases it is better to do the opposite. Let's consider, as in "Photoshop" to cut out an object without a background. In this case, it will not need to be moved. Instead, it will suffice to replace the background. For this, the "Select" and "Inversion" actions are performed. Then perform the "Edit" and "Cut" operations. As a result, the background is painted in the selected background color.

If you want to move the object to another location, you need to use the Move tool. However, first go to the "Layers" panel and click the "Background" button a second time.

Now you know how to reduce the size of a cut object in Photoshop, move it to the same photo, or paste it on another. We hope that this will help you create beautiful photo collages.