Usually the words easy and Photoshop don't appear in the same sentence together, but this tutorial is easy to follow, and teaches you one of the best tools Photoshop has to offer!

This teaches you to take an object OUT of a picture.

First, Download this file! --  padlock.zip ( 31.54k ) Number of downloads: 1541


Now, open up your Photoshop -- I use either PS 7 or PS CS (the choice is yours!) -- and open the file that is in the zip file! First off -- go to Layers>New>via Copy, this removes the lock on the layer. You will notice 2 layers in the layer palette (on the lower right corner of your screen) -- click on the one with the lock on it to highlight, then right-click and choose "delete"

1. On the left hand side of your screen look for the "Pen Tool" (it's about 2/3rd's the way down)

 tute1.jpg ( 8.91k ) Number of downloads: 145


2. Now make sure you have the items selected that appears in the next picture!

 tute2.jpg ( 8.7k ) Number of downloads: 144


3. Now starting anywhere on the padlock (I usually start on the upper left corner of the lock itself) start laying down points following the contour around the OUTSIDE of the lock. Don't worry about being precise right now, that will come later!

 tute3.jpg ( 4.26k ) Number of downloads: 142


4. Now, when you have come back to the starting point, close the path by hovering over the FIRST point you laid down (you should see a little circle next to the pen) and click once! This closes the loop.

5. After that, go to Layers>Add Vector Mask>Current path -- this should hide everything else except the lock! Now you should notice that the hook to the lock still has some of the old background in it! We will remove this next!

 tute4.jpg ( 14.25k ) Number of downloads: 132


6. Now, following the picture below, make the selection that is circled in it!

 tute5.jpg ( 19.31k ) Number of downloads: 148


7. Again start laying down points -- but this time notice how PS automatically subtracts the background for you! When you are done, you should have something like the picture below!

 tute6.jpg ( 11.69k ) Number of downloads: 131


8. Now here is where we get precise. Going back to the "Pen Tool" -- right-click on it and choose the pen with a " + " next to it! This will allow you to add points to your paths. These new points will allow you to put arcs into the path thereby making it rounded in the areas that need it! Now following the picture below, using this tool in conjuction with the new pen tool you picked up earlier in this step, allows you to move any of the points to wherever you want. Go ahead and move one of the points to anywhere -- notice how it adds/subtracts portions of the picture. This is how you fine tune your cuts! You will also notice little handle bars on each of the new points you added. By using the little white arrow, you simply "grab" one of the handle bars and move it up on down to put the arc in the path.

 tute7.jpg ( 5.95k ) Number of downloads: 26


Now, here is where this gets a little hairy -- Holding down the "Ctrl" button, click on the little grey window of the vector mask. This should load up what I call "Marching Ants" around your lock. Now go to Layers>New>via Cut! This puts just the lock into it's own layer!!

9. Now you can scale the lock to whatever size you want, you can add a different background or whatever you want to do. Let's do one more thing before we wrap this tutorial up!!

10. Make sure the new layer is highlighted, go to Edit>Transform>Scale. Now pulling one of the outer box tabs in or out scales the lock up or down. You will notice in the picture below, that there is a red curcle -- to accept your transform changes, click on the "Check-Mark". To not accept the changes, click on the "NOT Circle"

 tute8.jpg ( 14.37k ) Number of downloads: 132


One last thing to remember, if you accept a change on accident or do soemthing that looks bad -- hold Ctrl+ALT down then tap on the "Z" button to step backwards and undo whatever it is you did wrong. This is a helpful tip, but keep in mind that there are only 20 step-backs in the default. You can set this number higher in the Edit>Preferences option.

Well, you just used one of the most powerful tools PS offers!! How's it feel!? Now imagine the possibilities!!

Thanx