Create a cut-out of your chosen shot and change the background for a studio-style result
01 PICK BACKGROUND AND PASTE SUBJECT
Download the Virtual Background Pack to your computer, then select the one you want to use. (You can change your mind later.) Right-click on the backdrop and select Open With>Photoshop CC. Now open your portrait (or use Loretta.jpg for practice); when it’s on screen, press Ctrl/Cmd+A to select it, then Ctrl/Cmd+C to copy it, then Ctrl/Cmd+W to close it. Back in the Background image, press Ctrl/Cmd+V to paste in your picture as a new layer. Now press Ctrl/ Cmd+T and drag the corner handles to size your subject within the frame. Press Return when done.
02 SELECT YOUR SUBJECT
Click on the Quick Selection tool; in the Options bar at the top, click Select Subject. Photoshop does its best to isolate the subject, but it’s unlikely to be perfect. For a better result, include areas that are missing by dragging the brush over them. To remove areas, hold Alt and drag the brush. You can adjust the brush size with the square bracket keys [ and ], so take your time and get the best selection you can. If some areas don’t work, select the Lasso tool, and add (hold Shift) or subtract (hold Alt) by drawing around the area. Once you have a your selection, click Select And Mask in the Options bar.
ABOUT THE BACKGROUNDS
The studio background images (see download link, bottom-left) are all sized to A4 and can be used behind any wellmade cut-out to give a great new look. They’re grouped in six different colours, with eight types in each set. If you want the backgrounds to be larger (say, A3), just open the required file into Photoshop and increase the dimensions to 42 x 29.7cm in Image>Image Size.
03 REFINE YOUR SELECTION
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