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How to cut out and make the background transparent in Photoshop? How to make a layer transparent in Photoshop

Before you make a transparent background in Photoshop, you need to find out everything well about the capabilities of this program. And then suddenly, instead of the background, your clothes in the photo will become transparent.

Basics of working with backgrounds in Photoshop

Photoshop is rightfully considered the most powerful tool for working with raster images. Sometimes it seems that you already know everything about the capabilities of this graphic editor. But then again and again you come across something new:

The most popular use of Photoshop among ordinary users is changing and editing the background part of an image. As if anticipating this, the program, already in the first stages of creating a new graphic file, asks how to make its background layer:


Creating a new graphic file in the graphic editor is carried out through the menu “File” - “New”. In the dialog box that appears, you can set the dimensions and basic parameters of the future image. Setting the Background Content field to Transparent is the main way to remove the background while still creating the drawing.

The ability to edit images in Photoshop is built on the use of layers. Each of them is a separate independent object. Changing any of the layers will not affect the content of the others. The layer structure of the image is displayed in the Layers panel:


But all this is a theory that can be quickly learned in practice. So let's get creative, the power of expression of which will be enhanced by Photoshop.

Using an adjustment layer

Let's look at an example of how you can change the background in Photoshop using an adjustment layer. At the start we have this image:


The upside to using an adjustment layer is that it saves time by customizing the effect on the entire color gamut of the design. You can create it by clicking on the black and white circle at the bottom of the Layers panel. In the menu that appears, select “Curves”:

By moving a point on the curve and adjusting the color channel, you can achieve various changes to the entire photo. With a skillful approach, further editing may not be necessary. This is probably the fastest way to change the background of a photo:


Using an adjustment layer, you can easily change the time of day throughout the city.


Removing the sky

We're tired of the boring sky over the city. Therefore, let’s remove it using the “Background eraser” tool. It's in the left sidebar:


Of course, the example above lacks a little precision. Therefore, in order not to remove the necessary details in the drawing, you should use a thin pen.

All changes affected only the main layer. Before changing the background, use the menu “Layer” - “New” to create a new one:


Now, to make a new sky over our city, you can use your imagination and various Photoshop tools. For example, some kind of gradient. Here's what you might end up with:


But the contours of the city are very difficult to cut out exactly. Therefore, to demonstrate the next tool, we will use a photograph of the desert. The task is still the same: changing the sky:


To select the cloudy sky over the desert, we will use the " Magic wand" It is suitable for use in cases where the design consists of several distinct color shades.

Before replacing the sky background with another, activate the magic wand on the toolbar and click on the sky with it. In this case, it is better to set the sensitivity of the instrument to the maximum value. Otherwise, the background will not be selected correctly:


After that, right-click on the selected area, and in the context menu that appears, select “ Layer via clipping»:

It seems like nothing happened. But if we look at the “Layers” panel, we will see a new element there. To delete a cut out background, select the layer containing it and select the “Delete layer” command from the context menu. This is what our desert looks like now:


Now you can add a new layer and fill the sky over the Sahara with bright colors:


Blur the background

But I still want to practice not only on cats, but also on people. Let's look at how to blur the background in Photoshop. For editing, let's take a photo of a person. According to the unwritten laws of the Internet, a photo of a beautiful girl is most often used for such a demonstration:

Now let's try to make the background of the photo blurry so that all attention is focused on the female beauty. This effect can be obtained if you use expensive “DSLRs” for photography. But we will achieve this with the help of a graphic editor.

The main problem is to correctly highlight the contours of the body. Let's try to use a magnetic lasso for this.

If you drag the Magnetic Lasso tool along the contour in the image, the silver outline seems to be attracted by a magnet to the boundaries of the selected object.

After activating the tool, carefully move the cursor along the contours of the girl’s figure. And then in the context menu select the item “ Invert selection»:

Before making the background blurry, apply the built-in filter of the graphics editor. To do this, in the “Filter" menu, select the item "Blurring" - " Gaussian smear»:

It turned out, of course, not without flaws. But all of them can be removed using the Blur tool. And this is what happened:

Now we take a different approach and use a mask to highlight the girl’s figure. First, let's create a duplicate of our layer. To do this, mark it in the “Layers” panel and select the item “ Duplicate layer»:


Then apply the filter “ Gaussian smear" And add a mask to the copy of the layer by clicking on the icon in the form of a rectangle with a white circle inside it. This is what a photo of a girl should look like at this stage:


Now we do the following:

  • On the toolbar, activate the “Brush” tool;
  • In the parameters we set the diameter of the brush and the hardness of the effect:

  • In the picker, set the foreground color to black:


  • Then we slowly draw the brush along the contours of the girl’s figure and inside. You can immediately see that the brush restores the blur that we applied to the copy layer;

By default, all new layers in Photoshop are created with 100% opacity. But the degree of transparency of the layer can be changed using the settings Opacity And Fill located at the top of the Layers palette.

Opacity(Opacity) is a setting with a 100% scale that allows you to change the degree of transparency of the entire layer, with all the applied effects. If the value is different from 100%, the underlying layer will be visible. A transparency level of 0% indicates a complete absence of visible images.

The transparency of the layer can be compared to tracing paper, which is applied to drawings in order to copy them.

Fill(Fill) is a 100% scaled setting that allows you to change the visibility of a layer without affecting its overlays.

What transparency looks like in Photoshop

Logically, the transparency of a digital image is the absence of color saturation and density. If you imagine color as a film, then transparency is the intensity of light shining through it. But How to show translucency on a computer?

Photoshop introduced the convention of transparency to the world of computer graphics - chess background.

Now this convention has become a standard. Many programs and web services use checkerboard backgrounds when it comes to transparency. For example, Yandex.Images or Google Images show images with transparent elements on a checkerboard background.


3 ways to make an image layer transparent

To begin with, you need the necessary layer. The technique of selecting two or more using the Ctrl or Shift keys would also be appropriate here.

Note

The background layer (with the lock icon) cannot be transparent. For him, these settings are inactive.

One more note

The layer thumbnail will not change, no matter what opacity value you set.

Method 1 Entering numbers

Enter the required transparency value in numbers from 0 to 100 in the special settings window on the palette. Since both settings have almost the same effect, you can use either of them, just remember what they are.

Method 2 Slider control

A little to the right of the numbers there is a button with a small arrow. If you click on it, a slider will appear. You need to move it with the mouse left or right to decrease or increase the transparency of the layer, respectively.

The number display will show the current value, and the image itself will change with the movement of your hand.

Method 3 Using the keyboard

For a number of Photoshop tools, it is possible to change the opacity of a layer using the keyboard. Select a tool, for example, or (there are also a number of other tools, you can find them by brute force).

Now press the numbers on your keyboard:

  • The number 1 will change the opacity to 10%, 2 to 20%, 5 to 50% and so on;
  • The number 0 means 100%;
  • Dial 55 and you get 55%, 67 is 67% and so on

To use the same technique to change Fills, hold down the Shift key along with the numbers.

How to make a separate section of a layer transparent

To make not the entire layer transparent, but only a separate section of it, will require some effort. There is no tool as such for this purpose. However, depending on the problem, there are at least two solutions.

Both solutions are united by the initial, perhaps the most time-consuming work - creating a dedicated area. The logic of the action is simple - you need to select a fragment of the image with which further work will take place.

In our example, let's say you need to make a gray round background transparent. To do this I will use the tool. On the settings panel you need to set the parameter Add to selection, and then click on all the desired areas until you select them all.

After the selected area has appeared, you can make this fragment transparent.

Method 1: Cut out the desired area of ​​the image onto a new layer

First you need to make sure that any of the tools for creating a selected area is not active. For example Magic wand, which was used in the previous step.

Now you can right-click on the selection. A context menu will appear. We are interested in the team Cut to new layer.

As a result, this fragment will be separated from the current image and moved to a new layer. And then you can do whatever you want with that new layer, including changing the transparency.

Method 2 Using an eraser

This method is suitable if you need to achieve not a uniform reduction in transparency, but a floating one, that is, make this effect stronger in some places and weaker in others.

Select , in the options bar set the value Opacity different from 100%. Then erase areas of the image that are in the selected area. The tool will only affect those pixels that you have selected.

Change the value Opacity, if you need to achieve an uneven effect.

How to save an image with transparency

There are many, but only two of them support transparency - PNG and GIF.

GIF has a limitation - the pixel must either be transparent or not, there is no third option, that is, a transparency value, for example, 59% will no longer be supported. This format also has restrictions on the number of colors used - there can be no more than 256.

Therefore, the image must be saved in PNG format. Only it is devoid of all shortcomings and is capable of showing translucent pixels.

To create a PNG image in Photoshop, you need to run the command: File - Save As. A dialog box will appear in which you need to specify a location to save on your computer, and also select from the drop-down list File type — PNG(*.PNG).

If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thank you!

In Photoshop, one of the key concepts is transparency . Therefore, if you have just started getting acquainted with this program, then pay attention to this function; in the future, knowing how to make a transparent background in Photoshop, or how to make only part of a picture transparent can be useful when processing photographs and drawings, and significantly expand the range of your capabilities. The work is quite simple, so if you patiently follow all the steps, you will definitely succeed. So let's move on to the photo processing itself.

Necessary:

— Adobe Photoshop.

Instructions:

  • The Photoshop program has one advantageous distinctive feature , which sets the application apart from other graphic editors is its work with layers. And transparency there is necessary so that you can quickly replace the background image behind the object. This is also useful in the case when you need to process a photo and continue working with it in another editor, but without a background.
  • Before you make a transparent background in Photoshop, open your image in the program. Next, copy it to a new layer by clicking Ctrl+J or use the right mouse button, click on the image and select “ create a duplicate layer", and then click on " OK" You should end up with two identical layers: " Background" And " Layer1».
  • Next layer " Background" need to hide . To do this, just click on “ peephole» indicated by an arrow. After this, you need to begin separating the substrate from the main object. The best way to deal with this is to use an eraser (you can select it from the menu, or you can simply press “ E"). When you select this tool, carefully erase the unwanted background. The chessboard that will form as you erase the unnecessary part of the photo is what we need.
  • After you have managed to make the background transparent in Photoshop, you still need to correctly save image so that the result is not lost. Because not all image formats can preserve transparency. So, when saving a picture or photograph, use the format .psd(which is a Photoshop format) or format .png. In general, it makes no difference which of these two options you decide to use, but the format .png more practical because it is recognized by more programs.
  • There are other ways you can use to make the background transparent. However, the one presented here is the most simple , but sometimes it may be necessary to use others. In order to be well versed in Photoshop and feel which method is best to use when, you need to practice a lot, or take courses in graphic photo processing.

You will need

  • - Photoshop program
  • - an image that needs to have a translucent background.
  • - know how to create a new layer
  • - be able to use the Fill tool and draw shapes in Photoshop

Instructions

Double-click on the name of the layer with the image and in the field that appears, write any new name for this layer. This is necessary to freely move this layer and obtain a transparent background when removing parts of the picture. If the image already has an opaque, uniform background, then select it with the Magic Wand tool. To do this, select this tool in the toolbar and click on the background color, after which everything of the color you specified (on which the mouse was clicked) within the enclosed area will be selected. Delete the selection by pressing the Delete key.

In the Layers window, with the bottom layer selected, set the desired percentage of its opacity by moving the lever in the Opacity field and watching the background transparency change to . The lower the opacity value, the more transparent the background will be; the more opaque it is.

Sources:

  • Just about creating websites and banners

Many website owners are faced with the question of how to update their website or add something new to it. You can change a lot on the site: font, color scheme, location of information blocks, general background. In this article you will learn how to install picture as a background for site.

You will need

  • HTML code editor

Instructions

There are two ways to change the appearance of your resource. The first is to contact a specialist (webmaster) and he will make all the necessary changes for a fee. Another way is this. To change the appearance of your site, you should learn the basics of html code and use one of its editors.

The first thing you should pay attention to before picture to the site as a background, this is the width layout site: is it fixed or stretched to fill the entire screen. If the width is fixed, then you can safely place picture. It will be displayed equally well for all users. If the site is “fluid”, then the image will be adjusted to the width of the screen for each user and can be displayed.

So you know the layout width site. Prepare an image for posting. Upload it to the server where your site is located. The picture must be saved in one of three formats: jpeg, gif or png. For correct display, the background must be the same width as the width of the page.

Open the html code editor on which you want to change the background. Find the line "background-image". If there is no such line, write it in the “body” tag field. Like on a picture.
In this code, "url("images/bg.jpg")" is the path to your background . Write it down. Save your changes.

note

For correct display, the background must be the same width as the width of the page.

Helpful advice

To edit your site, use Dreamweaver.

Sources:

  • how to make a picture website in 2019

Photoshop opens up wide possibilities for users in processing photographs and drawings - you can create any visual effect on the selected image, and the number of these effects is limited only by your imagination, as well as your ability to work in Photoshop. One of the most expressive and beautiful effects is image transparency. The ability to make the background of a photo transparent, as well as reduce the overall transparency of the picture, will help you in further image editing.

Instructions

Create a new file - open the New option in the File menu, and select the Transparent option in the settings window. The created file will consist entirely of a transparent background. While on this file, press Ctrl+V to paste the selection copied from the previous file. Your image as the second layer of the file will cover the transparent background.

Select any tool on the toolbar that can be used to highlight certain areas - call them M or W. Scale the drawing for convenience and select those areas that you want to make transparent.

Once the selection is ready, close it and press Delete. The extra parts of the image will disappear and you will see a transparent background instead.

In some cases, you may need a translucent design - for example, translucent can be an unusual decoration for a collage or website, and translucent text can also be used as a . To apply translucent text to a photo, open the desired image, and then select the text tool (T) from the menu.

Select the desired size and color, and then write the desired text over the photo. A separate text layer will appear in the Layers palette. Move the slider in the Opacity line in the Layers panel to 30-40%. You will see how the inscription becomes translucent.

Video on the topic

While creating logo It is highly desirable to be able to make its background transparent - in this case it will fit more organically into any design, be it a website page, a Word document, a Flash or video clip, etc. In addition, the translucent logo can be applied as a watermark to images and photographs. The most common tool for carrying out this kind of graphic work is Adobe Photoshop.

If you think that only a Photoshop wizard can completely remove the background from an image, this article will convince you otherwise. Learn how to make a transparent background for a picture without professional photo editing skills. All you need is a convenient graphic editor "Home Photo Studio". The software will allow you to replace the background of any image with a transparent one in just a few steps.

Step 1. Working with the original

In the start window, click the button "Open image", in the file tree, find the folder where the desired image is stored. Upload the image to the program to work with.

Open photo for work

Before replacing the background, make sure that you are happy with everything in the photo. In the "Image" menu you will find many convenient tools for enhancing your photos. Fix imperfections by selecting the Defect Fix tab. You can easily remove noise, red-eye from photos, or correct color imbalance. Use Lighting Correction to manually adjust exposure and detail.

Improve photo quality

Are you satisfied with the result? Great, now you have to change the background of the photo.

Step 2. Make the background transparent

On the menu "Effects" click on the tab "Background Replacement". The first thing you need to do is separate the subject from the background. To do this, carefully trace the shape around the edge using the cursor. Made a mistake? Not scary! Just use the function "Select another area" and start working again. For convenience, you can enlarge the image by clicking the button "100%". Double-click the start and end of the selection. Was it uneven? Hide sloppy edges by increasing the amount of edge blur.

Outline the object

Great! Now in the list of design options, mark the very first item - "Without background". One click and everything outside the selection border is deleted. This will be indicated by a checkerboard pattern in the image. The example is a photo with a colored background, but you can also make the white background of the picture transparent. The algorithm of actions will not change.

Pay attention to the options available "Background Replacement". In the future, you will be able to decorate the background of your pictures with a single color or gradient fill, as well as using textures and background images. The program's collection options didn't work? Upload the file from your computer. Everything is very simple!

Making the background transparent

Step 3. Save the result

Do not rush to close the background replacement window, first save the result. Click the button "Save to file". In the window that appears, enter the name of the image and in the line "File type" Set the format to PNG or GIF. This is important because only these formats support the display of transparent areas. If you miss this nuance, the program will automatically save the image with a white background. Check your settings and click again "Save". Ready!

Save the finished image

Fast and easy, right? Just three steps and you have a photo with a transparent background!

If you wish, you can further process the image after replacing the background. Pay attention to the toolbar. Using brushes for dodging, burning, blurring and sharpening, you can edit individual areas of the photo. The Stamp tool is useful for retouching. Just hold down the ALT button, select an area in the photo that will be the source of the stamp, and paint over the unwanted object.

Correcting photos with a stamp

In the future, you can overlay a picture with a transparent background on another photo, use it as clipart, or create an original collage. All this is possible with the convenient “Photo Montage” option, you will find it in the “Design” menu.

Overlay a layer with a png or gif image on another image. Change the size and position of the object. Adjust the blending mode and transparency, and use a mask if desired. You will find detailed instructions on how to perform photomontage in the “Home Photo Studio” in other articles of the online textbook.

Now you know how to make the background of a picture transparent and how you can apply this useful skill. If you decide to download Home Photo Studio, you will not need to master complex graphic editors. High-quality retouching, quick elimination of defects, photo editing accessible to beginners - the program has everything you need to work with photographs. Transform any image quickly, easily and with pleasure!