Create Masks of Transparent Elements in Photoshop

You will be creating Mask of Transparent Elements in Photoshop and the final result will look like the following:

Step One

One of the major advantages of having access to the separate channels in Photoshop is the ability to make selections. You can use individual channels to make different selections in the image. When you want to select a specific item in the image, use the color channels that provide the greatest contrast around the edges of that item. So let’s start the initial planning phase.

Step Two

This is the original image. Though this is a CMYK image, same process will work in case of an RGB image. Only difference will be in the Channels panel. Instead of four color channels and one composite channel, there will be three color channels and one composite channel in the RGB image. The objective of this tutorial is to remove the black portion but to keep the glass, water, bubbles and the reflection below the glass. So we can use it on any other background (Solid color or photo). For this tutorial we will use Apply Image command (Image > Apply Image).

Step Three

The Apply Image command lets you blend one image’s layer and channel with a layer and channel of the active image. But remember the pixel dimensions of the images must match for image names to appear in the Apply Image dialog box. But here we are not using two images. We are blending the black channel copy with the black channel copy itself. But the power of the Apply Image is hiding within the Target section. Here you can specify a blend mode or blending type which you want to use during the Apply Image blend.

Step Four

Open the file in Photoshop. Then in the Channels panel examine the channels for a channel with good contrast. Finding a channel with good contrast is essential for good selection.

Step Five

Here the black channel is showing good contrast between the glass and the background.

Step Six

Duplicate the black channel by dragging it over the ‘create new channel’ icon below the Channels Panel. You can also right click on the black channel and select duplicate channel.

Step Seven

Then select the black channel copy and Image > Apply Image.

Step Eight

First blend one time with Multiply mode to increase black and in this process convert from the background any area to black which is gray. But reduce the opacity (within the Target section) amount to 50% to create a blend which is not too strong. Otherwise we might remove some white areas, as they are not pure white.

Step Nine

The Multiply blend mode looks at the color information in each channel and multiplies the base color by the blend color. The resultant color is always a darker color. Multiplying any color with black produces black. By using the Multiply blend mode we are removing any grey portion from the background.

Step Ten

Then blend two times with Overlay blend to increase white. Now we can easily select the white area. Our goal here is to create an effective, fast and acceptable mask with this process. This time use 100% Opacity in the blending area.

Step Eleven

The Overlay blend mode multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the base color. The base color is not replaced, but mixed with the blend color to reflect the lightness or darkness of the original color. White areas become brighter and black areas become darker. By using the Overlay blend mode we are increasing the strength of the white portion as we want to keep the white portion but mask out the black portion in the final image.

Step Twelve

You can still tweak the black channel copy by using a brush and paint with white or black color. Paint with white to keep image areas and paint with black to remove or mask out portion. White denotes opaqueness and black denotes transparency within a channel.

Step Thirteen 

Load the black channel copy as a selection by either Command/Ctrl-click on the channel or click the first button below the channels panel, which is load channel as a selection.

Step Fourteen

Then go to the Layers panel and duplicate the background layer by dragging it over the create new layer button below the layers panel. You can also right click on the background layer and select Duplicate Layer.

Step Fifteen

Then target the new layer (Background copy) by left clicking on it once. Selection still active, click on mask icon below the Layers panel to create a mask.

Step Sixteen

Now create a new blank layer below and fill it with either red or blue. Now check the quality of the mask. You will find that within the mask there are few grey areas.

Step Seventeen

There are two processes to remove this unwanted grey area. Although first process described below will give you the best output, but still let’s explore both of them.

Step Eighteen

Process 1: Change the blend mode of background copy layer to Lighten in order to remove grey area.

Step Nineteen

Lighten blend mode looks at the color information in each channel and pixels darker than the blend colors are replaced, and pixels lighter than the blend color do not change. As a result dark grey pixels removed.

Step Twenty

Process 2: Command/Ctrl-click on the background copy mask thumbnail to load the mask as a selection. You can also load the selection from the black channel copy.

Step Twenty one

Then click on the Adjustment layer icon below the Layers panel.

Step Twenty two

This will create a new Levels Adjustment layer.

Step Twenty three

Then in the levels dialogue box first drag the midtone input slider (middle one) and then the highlight input slider (right one) towards left to remove grey area or rather converts grey into white.

Step Twenty Four

After applying Lighten blend mode, if you check closely you will find that there are a few broken portions within the white area. You can use the Clone Stamp Tool to fix these areas.

Step Twenty Five

That’s it. You can use the same technique to select complex objects with variable level of transparency. Below is the before and after version.

Step Twenty six

This is the final version.

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Photoshop Image Background Removing Tutorial

First you have to open up a image and zoom in a little for better view. You have to match the curves and angles of your object as exactly as possible in order to start Clipping Path. 

Select the Photoshop Pen tool.

 Now pick a spot on the edge of your image object.

Move the pen around to the edge of the object 

Now get back to the point where you have started to make sure that entire object is outlined.

Now you will need to change the path outline into "selection" before you cut out the whole background.

Now you will see some dotted line around the object.

Now, You will need to invert the selection so that it’s actually selecting everything BUT your object.

Click on “Select” in the menu bar, and the “Inverse”.

Now simply press "delete" and your Clipping Path, Background Removing Job is Done!

Finish!

Tutorial Made by Shaan Graphics.

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Photoshop Pen Tool Guide

Functions

Pen tool : Click on the Photoshop canvas to create paths with straight segments, click on the canvas and drag to create paths with

Freehand Pen tool : Now drag to draw paths freely on to the cansas, as though using a brush.

Add Anchor Point tool : Choose a path segment to add anchor point.

Delete Anchor Point tool : Click on anchor point to remove from path.

Convert Point tool : Click on an anchor point and drag to create bezier handles where there were none, click on an anchor point with handles to a remove them.

Keyboard Shortcuts

P : Select Pen tool or Free form Pen tool, depending on which was selected most recently

The Cursors

The Pen tool takes on different forms depending on what you’re doing when youre using it. Each one intuitively makes you aware of the action you are about to perform.

(Caps Lock to toggle between pointer and cross hair in some cases)

• Prepared to begin path
• while midway through creating or editing a path
• When mouse is pressed
• Add an anchor point to path
• Remove anchor point from path
• When hovered over begin point of path; to close path
• When hovered over endpoint of existing path; to continue path, or (if path is active) to edit that point
• Prepared to convert existing anchor point
• Freehand Pen Tool
• Magnetic Freehand Pen Tool
• Direct Selection Tool; Pen Tool with Command pressed
• Path Selection Tool; Pen Tool with Command + Alt pressed
• When hovered over canvas with Ctrl pressed; prepared for options menu

Secondary Mouse Controls (with path selected and Auto Add/Delete checked)

1. Pen tool hover over anchor point : changes to Delete anchor point tool
2. Pen tool hover over path segment : changes to Add anchor point tool

Keyboard Controls

1. Hold Ctrl and click on canvas. Opens up an options menu.
2. Hold Shift to constrain movements to 45°, 90°, 135° or 180° while creating or editing anchor points and handles.
3. Select anchor point with Direct selection tool and click Delete. Anchor and adjoining path segments are deleted leaving two paths.
4. Pen tool + Option (Alt): changes to Convert anchor point tool.
5. Pen tool + Option (Alt) while editing bezier curve: splits curve (unhinges handles).
6. Pen tool + Command whilst creating path: changes to Direct Selection tool allowing repositioning of previously drawn anchor points.

Options

The  Window > Options is usually located at the top of your screen, provides the most important options for whichever tool is selected. This is also true of the Pen Tools and their options are outlined below:

1. Presets: Allows presets to be saved for whichever tool is selected. Define the options as discussed below and save as a Preset to quickly come back to those settings later.

2. Shape Layers: while this is selected, paths created will contribute to a shape, visible within the Paths palette and within the Layers palette as a vector mask.

3. Paths: while this is selected, paths created will contribute to a path, visible within the Paths palette.

4. Fill Pixels: The third path type option, available while one of the shape tools is selected. While this is selected, paths created will become filled areas.

5. Pen Tool: Selects the Pen Tool.

6. Freehand Pen Tool: Selects the Freehand Pen Tool.

7. Rubber Band: Available from within the Pen Options dropdown while the Pen Tool is selected. Rubber Band gives a visual of the path youre about to create, without you having the cursor pressed on the canvas.

8. Curve fit: Available from within the Freehand Pen Options dropdown while the Freehand Pen Tool is selected. Value entered determines the accuracy to which bezier handles will be added to your freely drawn path. The higher the value, the more accurate your result will be. A value of between 0.5 and 10 pixels is required.

9. Magnetic: Available from the Options bar and within the Freehand Pen Options dropdown while the Freehand Pen Tool is selected. When selected, paths drawn will magnetize to pixels. The Magnetic settings as shown below, determine the width of the area the path is prepared to jump across, the contrast of the pixels necessary to attract the path and the frequency of anchor points added to the path.

10. Pen Pressure: Available from within the Freehand Pen Options dropdown while the Freehand Pen Tool is selected. When selected, the pressure applied to a graphics tablet (if youre using one) influences the pen width.

11. Auto Add/Delete: Available when the Pen Tool is selected; allows adding and removing of anchor points with the normal Pen Tool (see Secondary Mouse Controls).

12. Pathfinder Tools: These allow addition, subtraction, intersection and exclusion of the paths you create..

13. Layer Style: Available when Shape Layer is selected; this applies layer styles to shapes on a new layer (if chain link is unselected) or to shapes on the current layer (if chain link is selected)..

Other Shortcuts and Tips

• (With path selected) Spacebar to give you access to the Hand tool. Move your screen without deselecting the path or changing tools.
• Go to View > Snap To > Grid to allow precise creation of curves with the Pen Tool.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Best Practice Suggestions

• Drag handles from the first anchor point when beginning a curved path.
• Drag your handles around just one third of the curve youre creating for a smooth path.

- Position anchor points on a curve where the paths begin to change direction, not in the middle of its curve.

- Be sparing with your use of anchor points, fewer points = neater path

Finish!

Tutorial Made by Shaan Graphics.

Shaan Graphics is a premier Image Editing service provider, providing this exclusive clipping path and background removing service with Internationally lowest price guaranteed. Shaan Graphics Image editing service starts from $0.50 only.

Visit www.shaangraphics.com for more details