PSD/Cutout Tutorial

This tutorial will show you have to remove the background from an image. For this tutorial, I will be using Photoshop CS2. It will probably be the same for other versions of PS. If you use Paint Shop Pro, I am sure the steps are similar.

First you need to find a picture you want to use. It is easy to use a picture that has a mostly solid background. Detailed backgrounds are harder to remove. I will be using this picture of Zac Efron. Right click on your image, and select Copy.

In Photoshop, press Ctrl + N. This will open up the "New Image" page. The demensions should already be the right size for the image you have copied. Click ok, and then press Ctrl + V. You should now have the picture pasted onto your image.


Under the Layer's Pallet, you should now have two layers. One is the background layer, and the other is the layer with your picture on it. Right Click on the Background Layer and select Delete Layer. You should be left with only your picture layer.


Next, select the Eraser Tool and set the size to about 20. Start to erase the background. Erase as close to the body as you can.


After you have erased as much of the background as you can, select the Magic Wand Tool . Click on the areas of the background you still have left, and then press Delete. Zoom in closer if you have to.


After you have deleted as much as you can with the magic wand, you will still be left with parts of the background around the edges of the person. To remove this zoom in close and carefully use a 1 or 2 sized eraser to remove the background.


You may need to use an eraser to smooth out some of the edges. After you are done, save it as a .psd. Here's what the finished product should look like:


Enjoy!