Learn how to:
Delete an image background;
Resize replacement backdrop; and
Copy and paste subject

Introduction
In this tutorial I will show you how to delete an image background, resize your replacement backdrop in order to fit your original picture and paste your subject onto the resized replacement backdrop

I will use a photo of a woman with an outdoor background, but you can apply the techniques discussed in this tutorial to any photo, whether taken indoors, outdoors, with other people, etc.  The principles taught here remain the same for any picture; it is only the degree of difficulty that would vary.

Step 1: Getting started

§     Open your original picture in Photoshop.

§     Immediately ‘Save As’ your image with a new file name, to avoid saving changes by mistake to your original picture.  For our purposes, I will be saving my image as the ‘subject image’.

→      If you’re using Photoshop, save it as a ‘.psd’ file to avoid losing the quality of your picture. The same would apply to any other program that you might use.  Always save the image as the preferred file type for that specific program, for example Paint Shop Pro as ‘.psp’.  This will allow you to work in layers with transparent backgrounds, without losing any data due to compression.

This is my ‘subject image’ (Fig 1a) that I will use during this tutorial.

→      Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts: Color F6, Layers F7

Step 2: Promote the background layer (if required)

§     Before continuing to edit the background of your image, ensure that you’ll have a transparent background (grey/ white checkerboard) and not a solid color when using the ‘Selection Tool’ or ‘Eraser’ to delete part of your picture. 

§     Look at the ‘Layers’ window.  (See Fig 2a.1)

§     If it says ‘Background’ next to your thumbnail picture, you’ll have to promote the background layer by following the guidelines below. 

→      In Photoshop: Go to ‘Layer’ in the top menu bar; select ‘New’ and then ‘Layer from Background’. (See Fig 2a.2) 

→      In Paint Shop Pro: Go to ‘Layers’ in the top menu bar and select ‘Promote Background Layer’.

→      Most software provides a tool for this.  Search the ‘Help’ menu of your software for more information on creating Layers and Transparent layers. If it doesn’t support this action, continue with Step 3 and I will cover both scenarios as we go along, with or without working with a transparent background.

Fig 2a

Step 3: Cut out excess parts of background

§     Cut out or erase the excess parts of your picture’s background that you don’t want in the final image. 

§     Use the ‘Selection Tool’ or ‘Lasso Tool’ to highlight parts of your photo and press the ‘Delete’ button on your keyboard to erase the selected area.  However, be careful not to select parts too close to your final image. (See Fig 3a)    

→      I recommend zooming in on different parts of your picture as you’re doing this, for greater accuracy and ease.

→      Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts: Zoom In CTRL +, Zoom Out CTRL -

→      If you have a solid color background after erasing parts of your picture, and you’re not working with transparent layers, don’t worry.  I will guide you in Step 7 on how to get the background transparent.

→      If you make a mistake, go to the ‘Edit’ menu and click ‘Undo’

→      Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts: Color F6, Layers F7

§     At the end of this step your picture should look like Fig 3b with a small amount of original background still left.

→      Remember to save your work continuously.

→      Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts: Save CTRL + S

Step 4: Use the eraser tool, zoomed in

§     Select the ‘Eraser Tool’ in your ‘Tools’ Palette.

§     Then zoom in to the areas that need to be deleted and carefully use the ‘Block’ mode eraser (Fig 4a) to delete these areas.  Don’t go to close to your final image though.

§     After deleting the bigger areas with the block eraser, select the ‘Brush’ mode eraser and choose the settings that would best suit your needs.  (See Fig 4b)

→      I recommend using a ‘Soft Round brush’ in Photoshop and adjusting its size and opacity as necessary.

→      Play around with the settings until you find what works best for the part of the picture you’re working on.  For example, for close up work, zoom in and use a smaller size eraser.  Or, for hair, select a light brush that is thinner and diagonal in shape, to get between the hairs that go out into the background.

§     Use an eraser setting with low opacity or low hardness to go over the edges of your images.  This will create the effect that your background is fading out, instead of your image being harshly cut out from its original background and pasted on a new backdrop.  
(See Fig 4c and Fig 4d)

Fig 4c

→      Getting the desired effect will take some practice.  I recommend taking it slow and playing around with the different eraser settings until you’re comfortable with the tool.  Zoom in and out of your picture from time to time to check the result at 100% zoom.

→      Remember to delete all areas that might show between the arms, legs, hair, etc. (See Fig 4d)

§     At the end of Step 4 your image should look like Fig 4e on a transparent grey/ white checkerboard background.  If you’re not erasing on a transparent background, your image will be either on a white or some other solid color background.  (See Fig 4f) 

Fig 4e

Fig 4f

Step 5: Save your new image

§     ‘Save As’ your new image with the deleted background.  This will allow you to go back to this image and re-use it on different backdrops. 

§     For our purposes, I will be saving my image as the ‘subject image cut out 01’.

Step 6: Open your replacement backdrop and resize images

§     Keep your newly saved image, ‘subject image cut out 01’, open while opening the new backdrop file as well.

§     Both images should now be side by side on your screen.  (See Fig 6a)

§     Ensure that both images have similar resolution and dimensions (either pixels or inches).   This will assist you to bring the two images together without having either a too small or too large backdrop.

Fig 6a

→      Always make your larger image smaller, as you can size down images and still preserve image quality.  However, you cannot make smaller images larger without losing quality. 

§     Look at the image information of your ‘subject image cut out 01’ photo.  It should display similar information as Fig 6b.

→      Most software has a menu choice such as ‘Image Information’, ‘Image Details’ or ‘Properties’. 

→      In Photoshop: Go to ‘Image’ in the top menu bar; and select ‘Image Size’, Keyboard Shortcut ALT + CTRL + I. (See Fig 6b)

→      In Paint Shop Pro: Go to ‘Image’ in the top menu bar; and select ‘Image Information’.

Fig 6b

§     My subject image’s size, including the clear background, is 1280 x 852 pixels; and the resolution 72 pixels per inch.  Record your subject image’s properties to compare it to the new backdrop’s size and resolution.

§     Click on your new backdrop image title bar in order to view and if necessary, adjust its proper ties.

→      In Photoshop: Go to ‘Image’ in the top menu bar; and select ‘Image Size’, Keyboard Shortcut ALT + CTRL + I.

→      In Paint Shop Pro: Go to ‘Image’ in the top menu bar; and select ‘Resize’.

§     My new backdrop image’s size is 1050 x 750 pixels; and the resolution 150 pixels per inch.

§     For my purposes I need to adjust the resolution of my new backdrop image to 72 pixels per inch.  This will change the pixel dimensions to 504 x 360 pixels. 

§     I then adjust the pixel dimension of my subject image to 541 x 360, keeping the ‘aspect ratio’ locked.

§     You will notice that the new width of my subject image is slightly wider than the backdrop image.  That doesn’t matter, as the subject image has plenty of transparent background on the left. 

→      Important: 

-          Compare inches to inches or pixels to pixels.

-          If your images have different resolutions and sizes, always adjust the resolution first and then the sizes.

-          Ensure that, when adjusting the size of your image(s), the ‘aspect ratio’ is locked.  When you therefore type in a new width, the height will automatically be calculated based on the original size of the image.  Maintaining the original ‘aspect ratio’ of your image will avoid picture distortion when resized.

→      Resizing images can be quite tricky.   If you’re not happy with the changes you have made, remember that you can ‘Undo’ at any time.  Experiment until you get it right.  However, be careful not to resize your subject image too small, with a low resolution, or your prints will be lower quality than the original. 

Step 7: Prepare the subject image to move to the backdrop

(This step is only for those who have a solid background on their subject image, after erasing the background.)

§     Keep both your images open after completing Step 6.  It should look like Fig 7a.

§     Click on your new backdrop image tool bar and create a new layer that would be above your background layer, or first layer.

→      In Photoshop: Go to ‘Layer’ in the top menu bar; select ‘New’; and then ‘Layer’ again.  Keyboard Shortcut SHIFT + CTRL + N. 

§     Go to your subject image and select the ‘Magic Wand Tool’ and click on the solid background color, which is white in my example.

§     If there are any other solid background areas not selected, hold down the SHIFT key while clicking on that areas too. 

§     You may notice that your selection is cutting some of the subject image.  Don’t worry if this happens.  You can correct it during the next few actions.

→      Holding down the SHIFT key should work with most software.  If it doesn’t work, search your software’s Help menu on how to highlight multiple areas at once.

→      You can also adjust the tolerance settings of your ‘Magic Wand Tool’ and experiment how it affects what the tool selects/ highlights.  (See Fig 7b)  Also make sure that the ‘Anti-alias’ option is selected.  You’ll need to get the selection tight on your subject image, leaving no background outside the lines of the highlight.  I suggest setting the tolerance level quite high, even if some of your subject image’s hair or face is cut off.

§     Go to your menu options and ‘Invert’ the selection.  The subject image should now be selected instead of the background.

→      In Photoshop: Go to ‘Select’ in the top menu bar; and select ‘Inverse’.  Keyboard Shortcut SHIFT + CTRL + I. 

→      If you didn’t set the tolerance setting of your ‘Magic Wand Tool’ high enough before the ‘Invert’ action, you might see that the selection, when you zoom in, includes too much background color.  The highlight should be as tight as possible, but not to include any solid background color.  If your selection of the subject image includes too much solid color, select ‘Undo’ until the background is selected again and adjust the ‘Magic Wand’ tolerance setting, and then try to invert your selection again. 

§     If some of your subject image is not included in your selection, hold in the SHIFT key, while still using the ‘Magic Wand Tool’ and select those areas that need to be included in the selection.  Or use any other selection tool that works for you. 

§     When you’re done with this step, your subject image should look like Fig 7b.

Fig 7b (zoomed in on selection to show hair detail)

Step 8: Move the subject image to the backdrop

§     Ensure that both your subject image and backdrop image is open, as shown in Fig 6a.

§     Click on your subject image title bar and highlight the image by pressing CTRL + A on your keyboard; and then CTRL +C to copy the selection or select copy from the ‘Edit’ menu.

§     Click on your backdrop image title bar and press CRTL + V to paste the image onto your backdrop.

→      In Paint Shop Pro: Go to ‘Edit’ in the top menu bar; select ‘Paste’ and then ‘Paste as New Layer’.

→      Use the paste option that allows you to paste the selection into the backdrop image and not a new image altogether.

§     Reposition your subject image to where you want it to be on the backdrop image.

→      In Photoshop: Switch to the ‘Move Tool’ on the toolbar menu, then click and drag your subject image to the desired spot.  Deselect the subject image by pressing CTRL + D on your keyboard, if necessary.

Step 9: Adding the final touches

§     Look over your final combined image and see if it looks natural. 

§     If too much of the original background is showing on the edge of the subject image, go back to the original ‘subject image cut out 01’ and erase a bit more around the edges.  However, if you’re using layers in your backdrop image, you can just erase the edges of your subject image on the pasted layer. 

§     If you’re not using layers, or working with a solid background color around your subject image, go back to the original ‘subject image cut out 01’ and readjust your ‘Magic Wand Tool’ settings as explained in Step 7. 

§     If you tried everything and there is still some of the original background showing, try the ‘Paintbrush Tool’ or ‘Airbrush Tool’, adjust the tool’s settings to a finer point and carefully paint over the unwanted color showing  through on your combined image.  Use appropriate colors that would match your new backdrop.

§     Use the ‘Airbrush Tool’, ‘Soften Tool’ or ‘Smudge Tool’ to create smoother transitions from subject image to backdrop.  The options are endless.  Explore your software’s tools to see how you can improve your final image.

Step 10: Saving your final image

§     Depending on the output usage, such as printing or online sharing, you should save your image accordingly. 

§     I recommend saving one copy of your final image in the preferred file type of the software you’re using. 

→      If you’re using Photoshop, save it as a ‘.psd’ file; and for Paint Shop Pro as a ‘.psp’.

→      For printing purposes: ’Save As’ a copy of the final image as a ‘.tif’ or ‘.tiff’ file.  This format preserves the original form of your image with no quality loss.  Save, if possible, without the ‘LZW’ compression though, as some photo processors might not recognize images in its compressed format.

→      For e-mailing or online sharing purposes: ‘Save As’ a copy of the final image as a ‘.jpg’.  This file type will compress the image and it might lose some quality, but the file size is small and is easy to upload to e-mails or websites.  This is however, not a good file type for printing purposes.

§     Remember, your subject image will look different on different backdrops.  Experiment by using your ‘subject image cut out 01’, saving it as a new file and following the same steps from Step 6 – 9 with a different backdrop. 

Happy editing!

My final image

Fig 10a