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Cutting Out Hair

 

The method described below is not only far superior to that outlined in Book 2 v 1.01, but is much quicker. It is particularly suited to studio shots in which the model has been photographed against a plain background which contrasts with the colour of the hair.

              Fig 1 The Original Image (left) and cut out with a New Background (right)

 

  1. Open the Image and if it is a Background convert it to a Layer by double clicking on the Background Layer in the Layers Palette and accepting the default name ‘Layer 0’ in the New Layer Dialogue box.
  2.  Look at the Channels Palette and determine which channel has the lightest background – in this example it is the Blue Channel Fig 2. Load (in this example) the Blue Channel as a Selection by dragging the Blue Channel to the ‘Load Channel as Selection’ icon at the base of the Channels Palette.

 

                          Fig 2  Channels Palette showing the Channel with the lightest background - Blue (left) and the location of the ‘Load Channel as Selection’ Icon (right).

 

 Fig 3 The Blue Channel loaded as a Selection (left) and inverted (right)

 

  1. The Selection appears on the Image surrounded by the familiar ‘marching ants’. Select the inverse of the current selection (Select > Inverse or Shift + Ctrl + I) and with the selection active add a Layer Mask to the Image Layer. Note - Select > Inverse is not the same as Image > Adjustments > Invert or Ctrl + I.

 

                Fig 4 The Layers Palette and Image after applying the Layer Mask

 

  1. Alt click on the Layer Mask icon in the Layers Palette to reveal the detail of the mask in the Image area. Adjust the background of the mask to pure black using the Levels Command directly on the mask (Image > Adjust > Levels). Some care is needed at this stage to avoid undue loss of detail in the lighter areas of the mask and it is essential to refer to the Info Palette and to monitor the RGB or CMYK values so as not to over adjust. When the background is just pure black the RGB or CMY values will all be zero and, for CMYK K is equal to 100%. When satisfied that the background is pure black Alt click on the mask icon in the Layers Palette to return to the Image.

                Fig 5  The Layer Mask before and after adjustment and the resulting Image.

 

  1. Select a conveniently sized soft brush and paint on the Layer Mask in white at 100% opacity to reveal the details of the face. Avoid painting too close to the edges of the face and impinging too far into the hair. When the detail of the face has been restored duplicate the Image Layer to restore the density of the hair – it may be necessary to make more than one duplicate Image Layer to achieve the required density – Fig 6.

 

 

 

Fig 6  Basic Cut Out (left), Image Layer duplicated x 1 (centre) and x 2 (right)

 

  1. If the Cut Out is to be placed on a Background it may be advantageous to change the Blending Mode of all but the uppermost Cut Out layer (Normal mode) to Multiply Mode. Apply the Layer Mask(s) if so desired – once the Mask(s) have been applied it is still possible to increase the density of the hair by duplicating the Image Layer and/or by varying the Opacity of one or more the Cut Out Layers, but the ability to reduce the density of the hair by turning off duplicate Image Layers will be lost if the cut out is flattened.

                   Fig 7 The final Layers Palette (left) and Hair Detail (right).

 

  1. If you propose to drag the cut out to another Image be sure to link the layers to form a Clipping Group.