When doing photomontages, designers often need to highlight everyone in the photo. The easiest way to create a selection in Adobe Photoshop is to use the Quick Mask mode. A more difficult way is to adjust the threshold level. It allows you to highlight the smallest details, such as strands of hair.
It is necessary
Adobe Photoshop Image
Instructions
Step 1
Make the background layer regular. To do this, double-click on it in the layers palette with the left mouse button. Save the file with Psd extension. On the side toolbar, find the dotted circle button. click and you will be taken to the Quick Mask menu. Adjust its opacity and color. When the settings are done, start working in the Quick Mask mode.
Step 2
You can work in this mode with painting tools (Airbrush, brush, pen, etc.). Paint over the objects you want to select. Don't be surprised if you paint over the image, this color is subsequently converted into a selection. Do not be afraid to experiment with the type of tool, try to paint with a brush with hard and soft edges, a pencil, semi-hard and soft.
Step 3
When you're done painting, click Exit Quick Mask. The image will switch to another mode, instead of a color selection, an outline will appear. The background also turned out to be highlighted. Don't let this upset you. Find the Select menu and enter it and click on Inverse. As a result of this manipulation, only objects will be selected.
Step 4
If the objects have enough contrast, then you can use the Magnetic Lasso tool from the toolbox. Find it on the panel - it's a lasso button. Click on the button with the Lasso, and when it activates, start working. Use the left mouse button to fix the points along the boundary of the object. The more points there are, the more accurate the border will be. When done, release the button - get the selected object.
Step 5
If the objects have a lot of small details, you can select all of them by adjusting the threshold level. Make the background layer a regular one by double-clicking on it with the left mouse button. Then duplicate it by dragging it over the New Layer icon. Work in the top layer. Enter the menu Image -> Adjust -> Threshold and move the slider from side to side, evaluate the change in sharpness and contrast. When the background is white and the objects on it are black, click OK.
Step 6
Rename the layer to Threshold. On the toolbar, find the "Magic Wand", turn on the Contiguous option, set the Tolerance option to a low value and select the black silhouettes of the objects.
Step 7
When the objects in the Threshold layer are selected, transfer the selection to the main layer. Click the eye icon on the palette and make it invisible. You will see that an outline appears around the silhouettes of the objects you want to select. Select the original layer on the palette and click the Add Layer Mask icon. Everything that is selected has become a layer mask.
