How to Use the Background Eraser Tool Photoshop Tutorial

Dansky
7 Jun 201606:39

TLDRIn this tutorial, Dansky demonstrates the use of the Background Eraser Tool in Adobe Photoshop, ideal for removing backgrounds, particularly when dealing with intricate details like hair. The process involves unlocking the background layer, creating a new layer with a bright color for visibility, and using the Background Eraser Tool with adjustable brush size and settings. The key to success lies in finding the right tolerance level to effectively cut out the background without damaging the subject. After removing the gray background, the subject is left on a transparent layer, ready for a new background or further editing. The tutorial also briefly covers using the standard eraser tool for final touches and adjusting the hue and saturation of the new background color.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Use the Background Eraser Tool in Photoshop to remove gray backgrounds and place images on a transparent background.
  • 🔓 Start by unlocking the background layer and renaming it for clarity.
  • 🖌 Create a new layer below the subject layer and fill it with a bright color to make it easier to see the areas that have been erased.
  • 📏 Adjust the size of the eraser tool brush using the square brackets ([ and ]) on the keyboard for precision.
  • 🔍 Set the Sampling option to 'Once' to ensure only the background color is removed upon sampling.
  • 🧩 Choose 'Contiguous' under Limits to target only connected areas of the background color.
  • 🔑 Keep the 'Protect foreground color' option selected to prevent erasing the main subject.
  • 🤏 Experiment with the Tolerance setting to find the right balance between removing the background and preserving the subject details.
  • ✅ Once the tolerance is set correctly, use the tool to erase the background, especially around complex areas like hair.
  • 👌 Switch to the standard Eraser tool to clean up any remaining unwanted parts.
  • 🌈 Use the Hue/Saturation options to change the fill color of the new background layer to any desired color.
  • 📱 With the subject on a transparent background, you can now overlay it with other images or apply effects like blurring the background behind the subject.

Q & A

  • What is the primary use of the background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop?

    -The background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop is primarily used for cutting out hair and removing backgrounds from images.

  • How do you unlock a locked background layer in Photoshop?

    -To unlock a locked background layer in Photoshop, you can double-click the layer and rename it, which will also unlock it.

  • What is the purpose of creating a new layer and filling it with a bright color?

    -Creating a new layer and filling it with a bright color helps to visualize which parts of the image have been successfully cut out, as the bright color will show through the transparent areas.

  • How do you adjust the size of the brush when using the background eraser tool?

    -You can adjust the size of the brush by using the left and right square brackets on your keyboard. The left square bracket reduces the size, and the right square bracket increases it.

  • What is the significance of the 'Sampling Once' option in the background eraser tool?

    -The 'Sampling Once' option allows the tool to sample a specific color only once, ensuring that only that color is removed from the image, and not other colors that might be similar.

  • What does the 'Contiguous' option do in the background eraser tool?

    -The 'Contiguous' option ensures that the tool only erases pixels of the same color that are touching each other, preventing it from erasing non-adjacent pixels of the same color.

  • How does the 'Tolerance' setting affect the background eraser tool?

    -The 'Tolerance' setting determines how similar the colors need to be for the tool to erase them. A low tolerance means the tool is more selective, while a high tolerance will erase a broader range of colors.

  • Why is it necessary to experiment with the tolerance setting?

    -Experimenting with the tolerance setting is necessary to find the right balance for effectively removing the background without accidentally erasing parts of the image you want to keep.

  • How can you finish off any loose ends after using the background eraser tool?

    -After using the background eraser tool, you can use the standard eraser tool to manually finish off any loose ends or areas that were not perfectly cut out.

  • What can you do with the image once it is on a transparent background?

    -With the image on a transparent background, you can change the background color, add a different image or photograph behind it, apply effects like blurring, or perform other creative edits.

  • How do you change the color of the bright layer used for visualization?

    -You can change the color of the bright layer by selecting the layer, and then using the 'Hue/Saturation' options (Command U or Control U) to adjust the hue and lightness to your desired color.

  • What is the final step to ensure the woman is cut out on a transparent background?

    -The final step is to deselect the bright color layer, which will reveal the woman cut out on a transparent background, ready for further editing or placement over other images.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Background Eraser Tool in Photoshop

This paragraph introduces the viewer to the background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop, emphasizing its utility for cutting out intricate details like hair. The speaker begins by unlocking the background layer and renaming it to 'woman'. A new layer is created below it, filled with a bright color to facilitate the visibility of the areas being cut out. The eraser tool is then selected, and its size is adjusted using the square brackets. The settings are explained, highlighting the 'Sampling Once' option to avoid removing unintended parts of the image. The tolerance level is discussed, noting that it requires experimentation to find the optimal setting for the task. The demonstration shows how to effectively remove the gray background, leaving the subject on a transparent layer.

05:00

🔍 Refining the Cutout and Customizing the Background

After the initial cutout, this paragraph focuses on refining the edges and finishing any remaining parts using the standard eraser tool. The effectiveness of the background eraser tool for detailed work, such as cutting around hair strands, is emphasized. The speaker then demonstrates how to adjust the hue and saturation of the bright color layer to change its color or make it white or black. The paragraph concludes with the option to place the subject on a transparent background, allowing for further creative uses such as layering with photographs or applying blur effects to the background. The speaker invites viewers to ask questions and share comments, and signs off with a promise to see them in the next tutorial.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Background Eraser Tool

The Background Eraser Tool in Adobe Photoshop is a feature that allows users to remove a specific background color from an image while retaining the main subject. In the video, it is used to remove the gray background of a photograph, leaving the woman's image on a transparent background. This tool is particularly useful for images with complex details such as hair, where manual erasure would be time-consuming.

💡Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used software for photo editing and digital art creation. It provides a suite of tools for image manipulation, including the Background Eraser Tool which is the focus of this tutorial. The software is known for its powerful features that enable professional-level editing, making it a staple in the graphic design industry.

💡Layer

In Photoshop, a layer is a transparency that can be edited independently from other layers. The video script mentions creating a new layer beneath the woman's image to serve as a background color for easier visibility during the erasure process. Layers allow for non-destructive editing, meaning that the original image remains intact while edits are made on separate layers.

💡Sampling

Sampling in the context of the Background Eraser Tool refers to the process of identifying the color to be erased. The tool can be set to 'Once' which means it will only remove the sampled color, or 'Continuous' which samples from wherever you are erasing. The video emphasizes the importance of choosing the right sampling method to avoid unwanted edits.

💡Tolerance

Tolerance is a setting in the Background Eraser Tool that determines how similar colors will be treated. A low tolerance means only colors very similar to the sampled color will be erased, while a high tolerance will erase a broader range of colors. The video demonstrates how adjusting tolerance can affect the erasure process, particularly around fine details like hair.

💡Contiguous

This is a setting in the Background Eraser Tool that, when selected, only erases colors that are touching the area where you click. It's useful for maintaining the integrity of the image's main subject while removing the background. The script mentions selecting 'Contiguous' to ensure precision in the erasure process.

💡Protect Foreground Color

This is an option in the tool settings that prevents the eraser from removing the currently selected foreground color. In the video, it is used to ensure that the bright color used to visualize the erasure process is not accidentally erased along with the background.

💡Eraser Tool

The Eraser Tool in Photoshop is used for manual removal of parts of an image. After using the Background Eraser Tool to remove the majority of the background, the standard Eraser Tool is employed to clean up any remaining unwanted parts. It provides more control for fine-tuning the edges and details of the image.

💡Hue and Saturation

Hue and Saturation are aspects of color in digital imaging. Hue refers to the type of color, while saturation refers to the intensity of the color. In the video, after the woman is isolated on a transparent background, the script describes using the Hue and Saturation adjustment to change the bright color layer to any desired color, including white or black.

💡Transparent Background

A transparent background in digital images is an area without any color or texture, typically used when the image will be placed over other elements or a different background. The video demonstrates how to achieve a transparent background by removing the gray background of the woman's photo, allowing for further creative use such as adding a new background or effects.

💡Zoom

Zooming in Photoshop allows users to get a closer look at the image for detailed work. The video script mentions zooming in to adjust the tolerance and work on the fine details, particularly around the hair. This feature is crucial for precision editing where accuracy is key.

Highlights

This tutorial focuses on using the background eraser tool in Adobe Photoshop for cutting out hair.

The background eraser tool is effective for removing gray backgrounds and replacing them with a chosen background color.

Unlock the background layer and rename it for clarity.

Create a new layer below the woman layer and fill it with a bright color to make it easier to see the cut-out areas.

Select the background eraser tool from the eraser tool options.

Adjust the brush size using the square brackets on the keyboard.

Choose 'Sampling Once' to remove only the background color without affecting other parts of the image.

Set 'Limits' to 'Contiguous' and ensure 'Protect Foreground Color' is selected.

Experiment with 'Tolerance' to find the right balance for removing the background without damaging the subject.

At a low tolerance, the tool may not effectively cut out the hair.

At a high tolerance, the tool may remove parts of the image unintentionally.

Once the right tolerance is set, use the tool to cut out the background, especially around the hair and skin.

Zoom in for detailed work around the hair and adjust the tolerance as needed.

Use the standard eraser tool to clean up any remaining loose ends.

The background eraser tool is particularly good for cutting around hair specifically.

After cutting out the subject, you can adjust the hue and saturation of the bright color layer or change it entirely.

With the subject on a transparent background, you have the flexibility to add different types of backgrounds or effects.

The tutorial demonstrates quick and effective use of the background eraser tool for complex tasks like cutting out hair.

Feel free to ask questions or leave comments for further assistance.

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