Cutting images with the pen tool in PS6
I checked the Photoshop memories, and didn't see a heading for this, so I thought I'd throw it together-if there's already a tut on it, feel free to delete it. :)
I've found that using the pen tool to outline a selection makes for nice, clean cuts, and it's really easy. Here's how I do it:
1.)
First, select your pen tool.
2.)
Next, outline the image you want cut by clicking on points around the image. The pen tool will mark each of the points with a little square, and connect them with a straight line. On straight edges, you can keep the points further apart; on curvy ones, make the points closer together to keep the curve from being jagged. If you're having trouble getting the points close enough together, zoom in. If you create an anchor point(the little squares) in the wrong place, go to edit>>undo.
Work all the way around the image, and then close the path by clicking on your first anchor point. When you close the path, all the little squares will disappear and the work path will turn into a thin line.
3.)
When you're done outlining your image, right click somewhere inside the work path and choose "Make Selection".
4.)
A box will pop up for feathering. If your selection has clean lines, and you don't want any feathering, enter "0" and uncheck anti-alias. I find that even a feather radius of 1 can make the edges look nice and smooth, especially on rounded edges. Here's an example, with the first picture at a radius of 0 and the second at a radius of 2:
Feathering is great for creating faded edges that will blend into a background.
5.)
If you've outlined the part of the image that you want to keep, Go to Select>>Inverse. This will select the parts of the image you want to cut, and maintain your feathering. If you've outlined something you want to cut, skip this.
6.)
Once you've selected the part of the image you want cut, go to Edit>>Cut. From here, you can use any tool to get rid of stray pixels.
This is just how I use the pen tool-I've found it a lot easier to work with than the lasso tool, because my hands are just not steady enough. ^_^ Hopefully, this made sense!
I've found that using the pen tool to outline a selection makes for nice, clean cuts, and it's really easy. Here's how I do it:
1.)
First, select your pen tool.
2.)
Next, outline the image you want cut by clicking on points around the image. The pen tool will mark each of the points with a little square, and connect them with a straight line. On straight edges, you can keep the points further apart; on curvy ones, make the points closer together to keep the curve from being jagged. If you're having trouble getting the points close enough together, zoom in. If you create an anchor point(the little squares) in the wrong place, go to edit>>undo.
Work all the way around the image, and then close the path by clicking on your first anchor point. When you close the path, all the little squares will disappear and the work path will turn into a thin line.
3.)
When you're done outlining your image, right click somewhere inside the work path and choose "Make Selection".
4.)
A box will pop up for feathering. If your selection has clean lines, and you don't want any feathering, enter "0" and uncheck anti-alias. I find that even a feather radius of 1 can make the edges look nice and smooth, especially on rounded edges. Here's an example, with the first picture at a radius of 0 and the second at a radius of 2:
Feathering is great for creating faded edges that will blend into a background.
5.)
If you've outlined the part of the image that you want to keep, Go to Select>>Inverse. This will select the parts of the image you want to cut, and maintain your feathering. If you've outlined something you want to cut, skip this.
6.)
Once you've selected the part of the image you want cut, go to Edit>>Cut. From here, you can use any tool to get rid of stray pixels.
This is just how I use the pen tool-I've found it a lot easier to work with than the lasso tool, because my hands are just not steady enough. ^_^ Hopefully, this made sense!