I am not a semi-professional–I just like to have fun and learn new tricks and summon the spirit of Ben Wilmore. I remember when I first discovered the pen tool. I was like, “wow, why was I using the magnetic lasso? What an idiot!” Oh well.
Cutting images out from the background is not hard at all and it’s probably what I do the most. With a little practice you can cut shit out in seconds. With a little help from an old friend, Joey Gladstone, here’s how I we do it:
You have Photoshop open, right? If so, move to Step 1. If not, open Photoshop and look for Jeff Chien’s name in the credits. I bet he is Asian or a dog. LOL.
Step 1.
Open your image in Photoshop.
Step 2.
Okay, good. You’re still here. Select the pen tool from your tools window.
Then make sure you have these settings selected:
Step 3.
Let’s cut this shit out! Once you have selected the pen tool, click anywhere on your pic. I started in the lower left corner because I knew Joey’s shoulder pad was coming and I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to finish the job. Shit!
Once you start clicking it will make a little squares. These are called an anchors. Use this type of flow: click > move your mouse to your next point > click > move your mouse to the next point > click > etc. When I say “click” just click and release. Don’t click and drag, unless you gots to go around some rounded edges, like Joey Gladstone’s earlobe.
Oh shit! Rounded edges!? After you make an anchor right by the earlobe, visualize the curve and pick a good spot for your next click. Then do this: click and hold that click > move your mouse to bend it like Beckham > release the click > then alt + click right on that anchor you just made.
When you finally make it all the way around and back to your starting anchor it will look something like this:
Step 4.
Once you have gone all the way around and connected the line the anchors will disappear. Okay, that’s what you want. Get ready to right click > make selection.
Another dialog box will open:
Sometimes I pick 0.5 or 1 pixel feather radius. For Joey, the 0.5 pixel feather radius will give him just the right edge. I never use 0 (ZERO) feather because the edge is too jagged like someone just cut it with a knife.
Oh shit! Look at what we did:
Step 5.
Ctrl + x Ctrl + v that shit into a new layer. Now you can float Joey over anything.
Step 6.
Now it’s up to you to put the finishing touches. Make it magical. Now try your own. Maybe try cutting out some unicorn pumps and float them over some mystical magical background with a unicorn looking on and he’s like, “damn, those shoes remind me of my mother.” I DARE YOU. LOL.
P.S. I just noticed his bolo tie. BOLOL.
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