2. What is a “Cut-Out”?
“Cut out” refers to an image with no
background, or a transparent background. These
can be used creatively in our yearbook!
3. Tools
Find the “Lasso Tool” on your
toolbar. Right (secondary) click
the tool to see other options.
Lasso Tool:
Flowing, freehand
drawing of a
selection.
Polygonal Lasso
Tool:
Drawing a selection by
connecting straight
lines together.
Magnetic Lasso
Tool:
When you draw a
selection, the pen
automatically
attempts to detect
edges using color
contrast.
4. Zoom in close…
To make a cut-out, your objective is to draw a neat line
around the subject. So first, use the “zoom tool” to
zoom in to clearly see the edge of your subject:
5. Trace the subject…
Use one of the lasso tools to draw a line around the
subject. Stay as close to the edge as possible. Make
the shape as accurate as possible.
6. Close the shape…
You must continue drawing until you make it all the way around the
subject, and create a closed shape by connecting the end of your
line to the point where you started. After you close the shape, your
line will become a dotted line, like this:
7. Close the shape…
You must continue drawing until you make it all the way around the
subject, and create a closed shape by connecting the end of your
line to the point where you started. After you close the shape, your
line will become a dotted line, like this:
8. Fix mistakes…
Let’s say you accidentally forgot to trace the arm. You can
ADD or SUBTRACT from your current selection after you
close the shape. Let’s see how…
oops!
9. Fix mistakes…
At the top toolbar, click “add to selection”:
Now we can draw an outline around the arm that was missed.
11. Refine edge…
With you figure now selected, click the button
at the top toolbar. You must have one of the lasso tools
selected to see this option. When you click it, smooth the
edge of your cut-out by moving the sliders.
12. Refine edge…
With you figure now selected, click the button
at the top toolbar. You must have one of the lasso tools
selected to see this option. When you click it, smooth the
edge of your cut-out by moving the sliders.
13. Copy the cut-out…
After you adjust the edge, return to your image and copy
it. (Select “Edit” > “Copy” or click command+C on your
keyboard).
14. Create a new file…
Now create a blank document to paste your cut-on on.
Go to “File” > “New” or click command+N on your
keyboard.
15. Create a new file…
When you create a new document directly after copying something, by default,
Photoshop will make the new document the same size as the thing you copied. Make
sure the “Background Contents” of the new document is set to “Transparent,” then
click “OK.”
16. Create a new file…
After you click OK, you should see a blank document open in a
new tab. A checkerboard pattern indicates that the document
is transparent.
17. Create a new file…
Paste your selection on the new document by selecting “Edit”
> “Paste” or clicking command+V on your keyboard.
18. Create a new file…
Save your new image. Go to “File” > “Save As.” When the save
window pops open, change the file type to a .png file (this
allows the transparent background to function properly).
19. Add your image to InDesign!
Draw an empty frame on your InDesign document.
20. Add your image to InDesign!
“Place” your .png file into the frame. Right click when it is
selected and use the “fitting” options to fit your image
proportionally in the frame.
