Precise Cutout WITHOUT ANY SELECTION! How? | Photoshop Hack

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through a powerful technique in Photoshop called "Blend If" to cut out complex objects, such as trees, without making manual selections. We'll also explore how to combine this technique with Photoshop's automatic masking features for even better results.

Step 1: Use Blend If to Remove the Sky

1. Open Your Image: Start with the image containing the object (e.g., a tree) that you want to cut out.
2. Select the Layer: Click on the layer with the tree.
3. Access Layer Style:
   • Double-click on the right side of the layer to open the Layer Style dialog.
4. Modify Blend If Settings:
   • In the Blend If section, focus on the blue channel by selecting it from the dropdown.
   • Move the slider for the bright blues to the right to begin removing them.
   • To soften the transition, hold the Alt (Option) key while clicking on the slider to split it, then adjust accordingly for a smoother effect.
5. Apply Changes: Once satisfied with the preview, click OK.

Step 2: Evaluate the Cutout

• Inspect the Cutout: Zoom in to check for any unwanted transparency in the branches or areas you wanted to keep.
• Common Pitfall: Sometimes, the Blend If technique can leave parts of the object transparent, requiring additional adjustments.

Step 3: Use Select and Mask for Automatic Masking

1. Select the Layer Again: Make sure the tree layer is selected.
2. Select Sky:
   • Go to the top menu and click on Select, then choose "Sky". Photoshop will automatically select the sky.
3. Create an Inverted Mask:
   • Click on the mask button while holding the Alt (Option) key to create an inverted mask that keeps the tree and removes the sky.

Step 4: Refine Your Mask

1. View the Mask: Hold the Alt (Option) key and click on the mask thumbnail to see the mask in black and white.
2. Adjust Using Levels:
   • With the mask selected, press Control (Command) + L to open the Levels adjustment.
   • Move the left slider to the right to clean up the mask, and move the right slider to the left to fill in the transparent areas.
3. Finalize Adjustments: Click OK to apply your adjustments.

Step 5: Combine Techniques for Best Results

1. Duplicate the Layer:
   • Press Control (Command) + J to create a copy of the original layer.
2. Turn off the Original Layer: Hide the bottom layer to focus on the new one.
3. Apply Blend If Again: Double-click on the new layer to access Layer Style and apply the Blend If technique to this layer for additional refinement.
4. Use a Brush for Final Touches:
   • Select the mask on the lower layer, choose the Brush tool, and set the foreground color to black.
   • Paint over areas where you want to adjust visibility, allowing for transparency where needed.

Conclusion

By mastering the Blend If technique along with Photoshop's automatic selection tools, you can achieve precise cutouts without tedious selections. This combination not only enhances your editing workflow but also allows for creative flexibility in your projects. Experiment with these techniques on different objects to see how they can improve your photo editing skills. Happy editing!