Tải bản đầy đủ (.pdf) (447 trang)

The photoshop workbook professional retouching and compositing tips, tricks, and techniques glyn dewis

Bạn đang xem bản rút gọn của tài liệu. Xem và tải ngay bản đầy đủ của tài liệu tại đây (26.12 MB, 447 trang )


THEPHOTOSHOPWORKBOOK
ProfessionalRetouchingandCompositingTips,Tricks,and
Techniques
GlynDewis


ThePhotoshopWorkbook:
ProfessionalRetouchingandCompositingTips,Tricks,andTechniques
GlynDewis
PeachpitPress
www.peachpit.com
Toreporterrors,pleasesendanoteto
PeachpitPressisadivisionofPearsonEducation
Copyright©2015byGlynDewisPhotographyLtd.
Allphotographs©byGlynDewisexceptwherenoted
AcquisitionsEditor:TedWaitt
SeniorEditor:SusanRimerman
ProductionEditor:DavidVanNess
TechnicalEditor:ScottMartin
Development/Copyeditor:ScoutFesta
Proofreader:HeatherHoward
Indexer:JamesMinkin
Composition:WolfsonDesign
CoverDesign:DaveClayton
InteriorDesign:WolfsonDesign
CoverImage:GlynDewis
NoticeofRights
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformby
anymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,withoutthe
priorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Forinformationongettingpermissionfor


reprintsandexcerpts,contact
NoticeofLiability
Theinformationinthisbookisdistributedonan“AsIs”basis,withoutwarranty.While
everyprecautionhasbeentakeninthepreparationofthebook,neithertheauthornor
Peachpitshallhaveanyliabilitytoanypersonorentitywithrespecttoanylossordamage
causedorallegedtobecauseddirectlyorindirectlybytheinstructionscontainedinthis
bookorbythecomputersoftwareandhardwareproductsdescribedinit.
Trademarks
AdobeandPhotoshopareregisteredtrademarksofAdobeSystemsIncorporatedinthe
UnitedStatesand/orothercountries.Allothertrademarksarethepropertyoftheir
respectiveowners.
Manyofthedesignationsusedbymanufacturersandsellerstodistinguishtheirproducts
areclaimedastrademarks.Wherethosedesignationsappearinthisbook,andPeachpit
wasawareofatrademarkclaim,thedesignationsappearasrequestedbytheownerofthe
trademark.Allotherproductnamesandservicesidentifiedthroughoutthisbookareused
ineditorialfashiononlyandforthebenefitofsuchcompanieswithnointentionof


infringementofthetrademark.Nosuchuse,ortheuseofanytradename,isintendedto
conveyendorsementorotheraffiliationwiththisbook.
ISBN13:978-0-134-00846-2
ISBN10:0-134-00846-4
987654321
PrintedandboundintheUnitedStatesofAmerica


ThisbookisdedicatedtomydearfriendToddMills,wholeavesahugevoidin
manypeople’sheartshavingbeentakenfromthisWorldandusallfartoosoon.
Withouthiswelcome,friendship,andsupport,Icouldeasilyhavebeenwalking
alongaverydifferentpath.

Missyou,Brother!


Acknowledgments
AlothashappenedsinceIfirststartedusingPhotoshop:friendshipsandopportunitiesI
neverwouldhavedreamedpossible.
Anne:Thisbookdoesn’tcontainenoughpagesformetowritehowIfeelaboutyou.Your
love,support,trust,understanding,andencouragementisoverwhelming.Yougivemylife
purpose.YouarethereasonIwillneverlivewitha“thatwilldo”attitude;youdeserve
everythinggoodthatlifehastooffer.I’manincrediblyblessedmantohaveyouasmy
wife;youandPoseyaremyworld.Iloveyou.
MorrisCat:Mybeautifulboy,mynumberonecritic,mybuddy—lifeisn’tandneverwill
bethesamewithoutyou.
ScottKelby:Blimey,wheredoIstart?IfindmyselfthankingyousooftenIjustwishI
knewawordthattrulyexpressedhowgratefulIamtoyouforeverything.Fromthatfirst
mentiononyourblogtothenever-endingadvice,support,andfriendship,Iowemoreto
youthanIcouldeverrepay.
Dave“TheEditor”ClaytonandAaronBlaise:We’veallsaiditbefore,butthereare
peopleyoumeetinlifethatjustfit;peopleyouinstantlyclickwithandfeelyou’veknown
allyourdays—andthat’sexactlyhowIfeelaboutyouboth.You’remybrothersfrom
othermothers,andIhavethisincrediblecreativeindustrytothankforbringingus
together.Goodtimesahead!
AlanHess:IfDaveandAaronaremybrothers,thenyou’remycousin.Spendingtime
withyouisalwayssuchablast.Thankssomuchforyourfriendship.
MattKloskowski,CoreyBarker,PeteCollins,andRC:Havingyouguysasfriendsis
somethingI’llalwaystreasure.Matt,we’llneverforgetyourkindnessforsendingover
thatwonderfullighthousepictureofyoursforAnne.Corey,you’reatopfellaandI’m
convincedyoureallyareaT1000.Pete,youtrulyareagreatguywithahugeheart.And
RC,well…everyoneneedsanRCintheirlives!
DaveCross:You’veinfluencedwhatIdomorethanyou’lleverknow.

JoeMcNally,JoelGrimes,PeterHurley,BertMonroy,MoosePeterson,JoeGlyda,
FrankDoorhof,andalltheotherincredibleKelbyOneInstructors:Yourtalentand
loveofwhatyoudoisaconstantsourceofinspiration.I’mtrulyhonoredtosharethe
stageandteachamongstyou.
BarryPayne:Mate,you’vebeentherefromdayonewithyourboundlessenthusiasmand
willingnesstohelp.Youepitomizetruefriendship.
ScottCowlinandTedWaitt:ForyourencouragementandbeliefthatIshouldwritethis
book;thankyousomuchforthisopportunity.
ThebookteamatPeachpit:SusanRimerman(SeniorAcquisitionsEditor),your
patience,organization,andteamco-ordinationskillsarequitesimplylegendary!TedWaitt
(ExecutiveEditor),ScoutFesta(DevelopmentEditorandCopyeditor),ScottMartin
(TechnicalEditor),HeatherHoward(Proofreader),DavidVanNess(ProductionEditor),


WolfsonDesign(InteriorDesign/Composition),andJamesMinkin(Indexer),yourvision,
attentiontodetail,professionalism,andinstinctsmakeyouanunbeatableteam!
RichardCurtisatAdobe:ThankstoAdobeformakingsuchfantasticsoftwareandfor
theirsupport,whichultimatelyenablesmetodowhatIlove.Inparticular,RichardCurtis
(AdobeUK)forhishelp,advice,andfriendship.
NicoleWolfeProcunier,BrandonFord,Steve“GettotheChopper”Nicolai,Mia
McCormick,MeredithPack,KathySiler,andStephenBell:There’ssomuchIcould
sayaboutyouall,buttosumitupinoneword:Awesome!
ZackandMeghanArias:Thankyouforinvitingmeintoyourlives;yourgenerosityhas
beenlife-changing!
ErikBernskiöld:Howonepersoncanholdsomuchknowledge,ability,andwisdomand
stillbesoyoungisunbelievable!MyonlywishisthatI’dknownyousooner—Imayhave
retainedafewmorefollicles.
LoxleyColour:IanLoxley,CalumThomson,PaulMcKendrick,andNeilWright:
Thanksforsuchanincredibleproductandthecontinuedsupport.Youfolksandtheteam
aroundyouareworldclass!

PaulAvins:Yourabilitytoseethepossibilitiesandopportunitieswhereotherscan’tnever
failstomotivate.Thankyouforyourconstantguidanceandvision.
ChrisFields(CHNOTechnology),BrianMatiash(Google),BenBrain(Future
Publishing),ChrisWhittle(ElinchromandtheFlashCentre),AlastairJolly
(Smugmug),Weston“Wes”Maggio(WacomUSA),TorstenKieslich,AmberMcCoy
(TetherTools),EricYang(TopazLabs),DavidMacKay(HeadshotPhotographer),
andSylights(www.sylights.com):Thankyousomuchforbeingthereinsomanyways.
Whetheritbeyourworld-classequipmentandproducts,yoursupport,yourpromotion,or
yourexpertise,youguysrock!
GaborRichter,CalvinHollywood,UliStaiger,andOlafGiermann:Ithankeachand
everyoneofyouforyourinfluenceandadvice,andforthemanylaughs;Ilookforwardto
muchmoreinthefuture.
TheCurryClub:NoelHannan,BrianWorley,DavidKelly,KeithHammond,DavidLee,
JamesHole,GarethDavies,DaveClayton,andChrisFields:Isn’titabouttimewe
arrangedanothershootandmeal?Alwaysfun,andalwaysgetsthecreativejuicesflowing.
Andfinally,ahugethankyoutoallthemodelsandclientsI’veworkedwithtodate;it’s
beenapleasureworkingwithandphotographingyou.Quitesimply,thesepageswouldbe
blankwithoutyou!


AbouttheAuthor
GlynDewis

OriginallyfromStaffordshire,England,GlynwasintroducedtoPhotoshopin2005,and
hislifetookacompletelydifferentpath.Withasomewhattenaciouspersonalityanda
hungertolearn,heattendedhisfirstPhotoshopWorldConferenceandExpoinLasVegas
in2006.ThetriphadaprofoundeffectonGlynbecausehewasexposedtoacompletely
newworld—theworldofcreativityandexpression,wheretheonlylimitationsarethose
placedonyoubyyourself.
Fast-forwardafewyearsandGlynisnowanestablishedphotographer,retoucher,and

trainer,withclientsrangingfromtheBBC,SkyTV,andAirNewZealandtophysique
athletesandmusicians.Heattributesitalltoacombinationofhardwork,theguidanceof
incrediblytalentedandgenerousfriends,andamindsetofalwayswantingtoimproveand
learn.
PhotoshopandphotographyisverymuchanequalpartnershipinGlyn’swork,andin
additiontoworkingwithclientshenowtravelsinternationally,teachinghisownseriesof
workshops,aswellascoaching,speaking,andinstructingatconferences.Hewritesfor
severalPhotoshopmagazinesacrossEuropeandtheUSA,includingPhotoshopUserand
PracticalPhotoshop.In2013,hewasfeaturedintheNewYorkTimes.Oneofthe
highlightsofhiscareerwasbecomingaMemberofthePhotoshopWorldDreamTeamof
Instructors.
TeachingandstandinginfrontoflargeaudiencescamenaturallytoGlyn,havingattended
dramaschoolforashorttimeasachild.Until2008,Glynwasalsoacompetitive
bodybuilder.HelivesjustoutsideOxford,England,withhiswife,Anne,andhiscat,
Posey.
Glynregularlyupdateshisblogwithnews,reviews,behindthescenesinformation,
tutorials,andmuchmore.ToseemoreofGlyn’swork,keepupwithhimonsocialmedia,
andlearnfromhistutorialvideos,checkouttheselinks:
Blog:www.glyndewis.com
YouTube:www.youtube.com/glyndewis


Facebook:www.facebook.com/glyndewis
Twitter:www.twitter.com/glyndewis
Google+:www.gplusglyn.com


Contents
Foreword
Introduction

PART1TECHNIQUES
CHAPTER1SELECTIONSANDCUTOUTS
QuickSelectionToolandRefineEdge
ImprovingCutoutswithLayerStyles
HowtoRemovetheAnnoyingOutline
QuickMask
FakingCutouts:Part1
FakingCutouts:Part2
AdvancedBlending
ColorRange
ThePenTool
ChannelsforSelections
CHAPTER2THEPOWEROFGRAY
BlendModeCompositing
Textures,Textures,Textures
SmartDodgingandBurning
TransformingaLocation
AddingDentsandDamage
InstantSix-Pack
PhotoshopLensFlares
MakeEyesPop
CHAPTER3LIGHTINGEFFECTS
TheWorld’sSimplestLightingEffect
TheNever-endingLightingRig
GradientLighting:Part1
GradientLighting:Part2
LightBeams
HorizonLight



FakeRimLighting
ReflectedLight
Shadows
CHAPTER4SPECIALEFFECTS
TurningDayintoNight
TheCartoonorPainterlyEffect
DebrisandDust
CreatingaSnowScene
Rain
TheWetLook
BlackandWhiteConversion
AddingFakeBlood
AddingSwelling
TheDetailsEffect
CHAPTER5COMPOSITINGQUICKTIPS
CreatingaHorizonLine
CompositingintoGrass
Shadows
MatchingColor#1
MatchingColor#2
PART2PROJECTS
CHAPTER6CHARACTERPORTRAIT
RAWConversionandRetouch
NondestructiveRetouchinginPhotoshop
AddingColortotheBackground
AddingaSpotlight
MatchingBackgroundandForegroundColor
LightingtheCigar
ThePainterlyTexturedEffect
CHAPTER7TOUGHGUY

RAWConversionandRetouch
NondestructiveRetouchinginPhotoshop


CreatingaNewBackgroundUsingTextures
AddingShadows
UsingtheWorld’sSimplestLightingEffect
CHAPTER8RHINOCOMPOSITE
CreatingtheLandscape
AddingtheRhino
CreatingtheDust
FinishingTouches
CHAPTER9FAIRYTALESCENE
BehindtheScenes
TheMiniatureRoom
AddingtheToys
AddingtheShadows
AddingtheChildren
TurningDayintoNight
TheWardrobeLight
FinishingTouches
CHAPTER10RETOUCHINGALANDSCAPE
UsingCameraRaw
CHAPTER11ASSASSIN
LightingSetup
CameraRaw
Composition
SelectingtheModel
DodgingandBurning
RetouchingtheJacket

AddingtheBackground
AddaMoveableVignette
TheGlasses
FinishingTouches
INDEX


Foreword
Iwearalotofhatsatmydayjob,wheresince1999Ileadacompanydedicatedto
teachingpeoplePhotoshop,Lightroom,andphotography.Oneofmyrolesthere(andoneI
particularlyenjoy)ismyroleasConferenceTechnicalChairforthePhotoshopWorld
Conference&Expo.That’safancy-soundingnamefor“theguywhogetstochoosewho
speaksattheconference.”It’sajobItakeveryseriously.
Peoplefromallovertheworldcometothisthree-dayconferenceandwehaddecided
fromtheverybeginningthatifthistrulywasgoingtobeaworld-classevent,wehadto
hirenothingbutabsolutelytheverybestinstructorsonearth—thethingthatwouldmake
ourconferencesounique.IfyoucometoPhotoshopWorldasanattendee,youknowfor
certainthatyou’relearningfromtheverybest.
Sure,therearesomeveryobviouschoicesforinstructorsoutthere,butIdon’tneedjust10
or12instructors.Withwellover100classestofillduringtheconferenceandIneedtoput
togetherateamor35to40flat-outamazingteachers.Theycan’tbejust“fairlygood”or
“prettysolid.”Theyhavetobeliterallytheworld’sbestatwhattheydo.That’squitea
smalllist.
Ofcourse,Ican’tusethesameinstructorseverysingleyear—youhavetokeepthings
freshfortheattendeeswhocomeyearafteryear.SoanimportantpartofmyTechnical
ChairjobistofindthenextgenerationofPhotoshopgurus—teacherswhoseskilland
passionhavestartedgettingthemworldwideacclaim.Iwasdelightedtoseethata
photographer/PhotoshopguruImetafewyearsagoonavacationtriptoLondonwithmy
wifeturnedouttobejustthat.
Afterspendingthedayshooting(andlaughing)ourwayaroundLondon(withourdear

friend,designerDaveClayton),IstartedfollowingGlyn’stutorialsonlineandsonofagun
notonlydidhehavesomeverycleverstuff,Iwaslearningnewtechniquesfromhimona
regularbasis.Hisretouchingtechniquesandspecialeffectswerejustreallycleverandhe
wascoveringandcreatingsomeofthemostpopular“looks”outtheretoday.
So,whentwoyearslaterIcametoLondonwithmy“Lightit,Shootit,Retouchit”fulldayseminar,IinvitedGlyntobemy“guestretoucher”tocomeonstagefor30-minutes
anddoastart-to-finishretouchofanimageIhadjustlitandphotographedofaboxerina
boxingring.Ileftthestage,satintheaudience,andtooknotesalongwitheveryoneelse.
Asexpected,heabsolutelycrushedit!
Iknewfromtheaudience’sreactionthatGlynhadbeenahugehit,butwhenIreadthe
hundredsofwrittenevaluationformscompletedattheendoftheday,Irealizedthatwhat
hedidonstagethatdaywasn’tjustareallygoodsessiononretouching.Whathedidwas
somethingreallyspecial.Heconnectedwiththeaudienceinawaythatafewpeoplein
thisentireindustrycan.Whateverthat“thing”isthatmakessomeonegofromareally
goodteachertoaworld-classinstructor,hehaditinspades.IknewrightthenIhadtoask
himtojoinour“InstructorDreamTeam”atthePhotoshopWorldConference&Expo.
FromhisfirsttimespeakingatPhotoshopWorld,hewasahit.Hecaptivatedroomsfullof
seriousPhotoshopuserswithhisknowledge,passion,andgiftforcommunicatingwithwit


andwisdomthroughout.Butitwashisheartfeltpresentationattheclosingceremonythat
yearinfrontofliterallythousandsofPhotoshopusersgatheredfromaroundtheworld,
wherehesharedhispersonalstory,hisjourney,hisstruggles,andhistriumphs,thatmade
himwhoheistodayandthatmadeusfallinlovewiththemanbehindthetraining.
Hesharedsomewonderfulinsightsintohislife,whichbroughtintoperspectivehis
willingnesstopassonwhathe’slearnedtoothers(evenifhelearneditthehardway).He
doesitallinawaythatreallymakesitstick.Glyn’steachinghashelpedsomanypeople
aroundtheworldachievetheirdreamsinPhotoshop,andindoingthat,they’vehelpedhim
achievehisdreamsaswell.Andyou’reholdingaculminationofallofthatinyourhands
rightnow.
I’velearnedsomuchfromGlynovertheyears,andI’msoexcitedthatyou’llnowhave

theopportunitytolearnfromhimaswellasyoujoinhimonthisjourney.I’msoproudof
Glynforwhathe’sdonehereinhisdebutbook—thefirstofmanytocome—andonethatI
knowwillhaveyoucreatingthetypeofimagesyou’vealwaysdreamedof.
Glynhasalottoshare,andhedoesn’tholdback.Hegivesyoueverythinghe’sgot(ashe
doesineverything).Iknowasyougothroughthisbookandstartcreatingthesetypesof
imagesthattherewillbetimeswhereyou’llhavethatsamesillysmileonasIdidwhen
sittinginthataudienceinLondonwatchingGlynteach.You’llhavethatmomentwhen
Glynteachesoneofhisamazingtechniquesandyouthinktoyourself(justlikeIdid),“Ah
ah—sothat’showyoudoit!”
Youarereallyinforatreat.
Allmybest,
ScottKelby
Publisher,PhotoshopUsermagazine


Introduction

AdobePhotoshopisatrulyincrediblepieceofsoftware,limitedonlybytheskilland
creativityofthepersonusingit.Frommyperspective,therearenoadvancedusers.
There’snosuchthingasadvanced—therearejustthosewhohaveputittouse,practiced
more,andhaveaworkingknowledgeofthetoolsandtechniques.Mostimportantly,
though,theyunderstandhowandwhentousethetoolsandtechniquestogettheresults
theywantagainandagain.
Sowhoisthisbookfor?Well,tobeperfectlyhonest,it’sforanyonewhoalreadyuses
AdobePhotoshop,hasabasicknowledgeofthetoolsandfeatures,andwantstoimprove
andrealizetheirowncreativepotential—it’sthatsimple!
InThePhotoshopWorkbook,Ileadyouthroughthecompositingandretouching
techniquesthatIuseeverydaytocreateimagesformyportfolioandforclients,who
rangefromtheBBCandSkyTVtoathletes,musicians,andotherprofessionals.



AboutThisBook
Thisbookissplitintotwodistinctsections.Inthefirstsection,westartoffbygoing
throughselectionsandcutouts.HavingtaughtthousandsofPhotoshopusersaroundthe
world,Iknowthatmakinggreatselectionsandcutoutsistheareathatcausesthemost
frustration.So,I‘vepurposelydedicatedChapter1tothisandplaceditrightatthestartof
thebook.I’llshowyouhowtoachievetheverybestresultsusingarangeoftoolsand
techniquestogetthejobdone,soyoucancarryondoingwhatyoureallywanttobe
doing:beingcreative.
Thetoolswehaveavailabletousareincredible,butdespitethisthere’snosingletoolor
techniquethatwillworkoneveryimage.I’llshowyouhowtomasterthetoolsandthe
techniques,andevenshowyousometricksofthetradeformakingtheperfectselections.
Yourknowledgeandconfidencewillquicklybuild,soyoucanthenlaughinthefaceofa
trickycutout—well,youknowwhatImean.
WethenmoveontolookatthemanycreativeusesofgrayinChapter2.I’llshowyoua
super-fastwaytocreatecompositeimages,howtocreativelyusetextures,andwillexplain
anondestructivedodgingandburningtechniqueforaddingdepthanddimensiontoyour
images.I’llalsosharehowtocompletelytransformalocationusinggray,howtocreatea
lensflare,howtoaddfakedamageanddents,andevenhowtogiveanyoneaperfectabs
six-pack(well,almostanyone!).
Addinglightingeffectsisagreatwaytochangethelookandfeelofapicture,soChapter
3coverssomeofthemostcommontechniquesIusetodoexactlythat.IshowyouwhatI
call“theworld’ssimplestlightingeffect”andhowtocreaterealisticshadows.These
techniquesareeffectivebutalsosimpleandquicktoapply.
Chapter4iswherewe’llhavegreatfunwithspecialeffects,butwiththeemphasison
realism.We’lllookathowtoaddrealisticrainandhowtocreatetheflyingdebristhatwe
sooftenseeinHollywoodaction-moviephotos.You’llalsolearnhowtoturndayinto
nightandevenhowtocreateasnowscene.
InChapter5I’llshowyouhowtomatchthecolorwhencompositing,andhowtoadd
realisticshadowssothattheviewerwilltotallybelievethateverythingwasthereinthe

originalphotograph.Inaddition,Ishowyousomecleverusesofbrushesincompositing
andhowtoaddahorizonlinesothatthelightinginasceneistotallybelievable.
Inthesecondsectionofthebook,everythingcomestogetherandweputallthelearning
intopracticeasItakeyoustepbystepthroughsixcompleteretouchingprojects.
AnyonecanlearnPhotoshoptechniques,buttherealskillisinknowinghowandwhento
applythem,andthat’sexactlywhatwedohereasweworkthroughacharacterportrait,a
themedcompositeusinggray,ananimalprojectcompositecreatingauniquelandscape
fromanumberofdifferentpictures,afairytale-themedcompositeusingminiatureand
life-sizeelements,andalandscaperetouch.Byworkingthroughtheprojectsyou’lllearn
notonlyhowtoapplythetechniqueswecoveredinpartoneofthebook,butalsohowto
combinethemtomakeyourowncreativeimages.
Tohelpyouwiththelearningprocess,I’vemadealltheimagefilesforeachproject


availableforyoutodownload.Toaccessthefiles,youmustfirstregisteryourbookat
Peachpit.com.Ifyoudon’talreadyhaveanaccount,createone(it’sfree!)at
peachpit.com/register.Afteryouhavecreatedyouraccountorloggedin,registeryour
book.Enterthebook’sISBNnumber,9780134008462,andclickSubmit.Lookforthe
bookundertheRegisteredProducttabonyourAccountpage.ThenselectAccessBonus
Content.Fromthere,youcandownloadtheimageassetfiles.

HowtoUseThisBook
Thefirstpartofthebookwaswrittensothatyoucandivein,learnatechnique,andthen
useit.IrecommendthatyouworkyourwayfromstarttofinishofChapter1.Selections
andcutoutscancausealotoffrustration,sospendsometimeheregoingthroughthetools
andtechniques,andtrythemoutonyourownimages.
WhenitcomestoPhotoshop,thereisnorightorwrongwaytodosomething—thereare
justgoodandbadresults!Throughoutthisbookyou’llseemanytips,tricks,and
techniquesthatIuseinmywork,buttherewillalwaysbecountlessotherwaystoachieve
similarresults.Thekey,however,istocontinuallybuildaknowledgebaseandaddtoyour

Photoshoptoolbag.
Sharingknowledgeandseeingsomeone’sjoywhentheycandosomethingthatpreviously
eludedthemisawonderfulfeeling.Myhopeisthatthecontentofthisbooknotonlyhelps
youdevelopyourskills,butalsoinspiresandpushesyoutocreateimagesyounever
thoughtpossible.Realizethatwithknowledgeandplentyofpractice,youcandoit!
—GlynDewis


Part1:Techniques



Chapter1.SelectionsandCutouts

Let’skickoffbygoingthroughanumberoftechniquesformakingselectionsandcutouts.
AsalwayswithPhotoshop,therearecountlesswaystoachievethesameorsimilarresults.
InthischapterItakeyouthroughthetechniquesIusemostofteninmyownworkflow.
Makingselectionscanbefrustrating.I’msureyou’dmuchratherspendyourtimebeing
creativethanmakingselections,buttherearetimesthatthey’reunavoidable,especially
whencompositing.Butwithalittleknowledgeandalittlepractice,you’llsoonfindthat
theydon’ttakemuchtimeatall.


QuickSelectionToolandRefineEdge
WhentheQuickSelectiontoolwasintroduced,itseemedeveryoneIspoketowas
achievingincredibleresults;forme,though,itwasquiteadifferentstory.
Sure,simpleselectionswerenoproblem,butwhenitcametogettingagreatselectionof
bothbodyandhair,Iranintoissues.
ThesolutionIfoundwastousetheQuickSelectiontooltomaketwoselections—oneof
thebody,oneofthehair—andthencombinethem.

1.Withasuitableimageopen(thatis,oneinwhichthecutoutincludesfly-awayhair),
choosetheQuickSelectiontoolfromthetoolbar(Figure1.1),andintheoptionsat
thetopofthescreenmakesurethattheAddtoSelectioniconisturnedon(middle
option)andthattheAutoEnhancecheckboxisselected(Figure1.2).

Figure1.1

Figure1.2
2.Clickthephoto,anddragonlyaroundthebodyarea(leavetheheaduntillater)to
selectit(Figure1.3).


Figure1.3
Note
Asyoudrag,moreandmoreoftheimagewillbeselected.Ifyouselecttoomuch,
Option/Alt-dragtheareasyouwanttoremove.
3.ChooseSelect>SaveSelection,nametheselectionbody(Figure1.4),leavingthe
othersettingsattheirdefaultasinFigure1.4,andclickOK.

Figure1.4
4.ChooseSelect>Deselect,andusetheQuickSelectiontooltodragoverthehairand
face,selectingthem.


Note
Whenselectingthehairit’simportantthatyoudon’tincludeanyareaswhereyou
canseethroughtothebackground(Figure1.5).Thisisveryimportantandakey
partofmakingagreatselectionusingtheQuickSelectiontool.Option/Alt-drag
overanyareasinwhichyoucanseethebackgroundtoremovethemfromthe
selection(Figure1.6).


Figure1.5Incorrectselectionofheadandhair

Figure1.6Correctselectionofheadandhairwithnoneofthebackgroundincluded
5.WecannowgointoRefineEdgetopickupallofthosefineflyawayhairs.Clickthe
RefineEdgebuttonatthetopofthescreenintheQuickSelectionoptions(Figure
1.7).


Figure1.7
6.Nowyou’llchoosehowyouwouldprefertoseetheimagewhenworkingonyour
cutout.WhenI’mworkingonacutoutthatwilleventuallybeplacedinabright
scenelikethisone,ItendtofavorOnWhite,whichcanbefoundintheViewdropdownmenu(Figure1.8).Conversely,whenthebackgroundsceneisgoingto
containlotsofdarkareas,IfavorOnBlack.

Figure1.8
7.NextincreasetheRadiusslidertostartaddingtheremaininghairintotheselection.
Iftoohighapixelamountisused,thecutoutcangetalittlefunkyasinFigure1.9,
soit’sbesttobringitupgradually.Forthisexample,aRadiusof25pxworkedwell
asinFigure1.10.


Figure1.9ExampleofusingatoohighRadiussetting

Figure1.10
8.SelecttheSmartRadiuscheckboxtoseeifitenhancesyourselection.Thenwiththe
RefineRadiustool(Figure1.11),paintaroundtheentireoutsideoftheheadtopick
upallthehairnotyetincluded.



×