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In This quick tip I show you how to cut out an image from a background with the extract tool. Much faster than using the lasso or pen tool. Thanks to my boss for showing this to me yesterday! Photoshop is just one of those programs that you will never completely master – there are so many ways to do the same thing its crazy!
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[19] Comments
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Marc says:
Does the extract filter find the edges of the image you outlined like a magnetic lasso, or does it essentially work like a quickmask, where the brush actually defines the edge of the area extracted?
If it’s the former, then cool! Should work great for clean backgrounds. If it’s more like the latter, then like you say, it’s just another screen in which you do the same thing.
I’ll have to play with it later.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:47 am
Shawn K says:
This is really handy. I’ve used it to cut out fireworks on a black sky and it worked pretty well. Saves tons of time since you don’t have to get right up close to outline everything with the pen tool.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:24 am
Steph Adamo says:
My old boss showed me how to do this and i forgot what he did, so i’m glad you posted this. If it’s a white bg like that i usually use the magic wand tool, and it’s only okay.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
Tara Reed says:
Found you through a link by @mayhemstudios on twitter — fabulous! I’m off to give it a try. Thank you for the tutorial!
Tara Reed
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Gabe says:
Sweet. I remember learning that many moons ago, but I had totally forgotten about it. Like Shawn K said, seems way faster than the pen tool like I had been using. Is there a way to make it mask instead of deleting? Or do I just copy my layer first, use the extraction, then use that new layer to make a mask on my original layer in case I need to fine tune it?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 am
freddygirl says:
get out of town! i had no idea you could do that. great tip, thx!
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Kate Nickerson says:
Cutting things out is one of the things that I struggle with most as a newspaper layout designer.
I have the same question as Marc.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
SethStevenson says:
Great tip. I’ll have to try it out later. Photoshop has so many tools I don’t even know about yet. Now if I could just get it to quit crashing on my work PC. :\
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Renee says:
Oh shit! I had no idea you could do that!! Why oh why wasn’t I shown this years ago when I had to cut out product shots at my very first co-op?! *head desk* Ha ha.
Thanks for the sweet tip!
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Aaron Irizarry says:
Nice! This will save me a ton of time.. instead of creating clipping paths everytime I need to cut something out.
Keep em comin’
Aaron I
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Gaia says:
Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know about this…
I do use the magic wand for this sort of things, though. Especially if the background is white, the wand will select it very easily and then you can invert the selection to capture your object
February 4th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Daryl Walker-Smith says:
Great tip – but I can’t see “Extract” in the filter dropdown in CS4 – or am I just being dumb?
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February 4th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Daryl Walker-Smith says:
Have just discovered that CS4 doesn’t have this little gem by default. You have to download it from Adobe or install it from your “goodies” folder.
Having said that, be warned, since doing so some of my scripts don’t work and the “Save for Web and Devices” is permantently greyed out
(
February 4th, 2009 at 9:06 am
n00bz0rz says:
that’s neat for a quick fix… , the optimal way is to extract from images is to switch through the rgb channels find the highest contrasted channel duplicate it, adjust the levels for a pure black and white silohette, do minor adjustments filling in the black and white until desired silohette then drag the channel down to create outline from channel go back to rgb channel and copy out out your image, you can also go back to channels and click on create channel mask from outline, and you have a permanent outline for future work
February 5th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Nick says:
Loving your tips….great stuff!! Did you know that with the extract tool when you are outlining your selection id you hold the Control button (PC) while outlining an area that has a pretty defined edge you can tighten the selection? Try it…it helps a lot. I always stick to the wide brush though when highlighting hair or grass, etc. though.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Lenae says:
Fabulous! so easy I can’t wait to share.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Silvertoes says:
You are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm