Selection technique for isolating photo elements

[BarKeegan]

Although I find the Smart Selection brush quite useful, it doesn’t always get the job done,

so here’s an alternative method for separating elements with fine detail in a photo.

1). Don’t forget to rasterise the imported image.

2). Duplicate it. One version will be be converted to a high contrast black & white image, while the other remains the same.

3). Take one of the copies, and in Adjustments Studio in the sidebar, scroll down to Vibrance in order to dial down the Saturation, creating a ‘greyscale’ image.

4). While still in Adjustments Studio, scroll up to Levels, increase the % of Black and decrease the % of White, in order to create a high contrast image.

5). Use a Black brush to fill in any White areas you DON’T want to become part of the selection.

6). Next, access the Channels Studio in the sidebar, click on the three dots next to composite Blue (or either of the other colours), and choose the option: Load to Pixel Selection. This will select all the white parts of the image.

7). Switch to Selections Persona, and with the Move Tool, click & hold on the Canvas to call up a dialogue box, and finally choose Invert Selection.

8). Switch back to Photo Persona, and with the Move Tool selected copy & paste from the original colour image to a new layer. You’ll be left with the desired portion of the photo.

Notes: I’ll sometimes duplicate this new isolated image, in order to add a Multiply effect under Layer Options. This can help the image to blend better with the background if placed beneath the unadjusted layer. Also, when using Channels Studio to make a selection, you can save a copy of it by clicking on the three dots next to one of the colour composites and choosing Create Spare Channel. You will then be able to return to the Spare in order to make another selection.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if there are any questions.