Out of Bounds, not photoshop specific

[Guest]

I did this in photo shop so I have posted the tutorial here but its a generic tutorial so should be easy enough in any app.

Take the basic image

 

 

then add the frame, I did this by adding four rectangles to make the frame

 

using a large eraser delete the unwanted part of the image taking care not to delete the bit you want to keep

 

 

Then use a smaller eraser to get close to the final image.

 

now you can see the overall effect crop the out of bounds bit to the size you prefer

 

and then finally using a one pixel eraser delete the last of the unwanted bits

[ChrisLumix]

Good moves. I would probably have used a magic wand to select the green, rather than a one-pixel eraser (but then, I'm impatient like that!).

[Guest]

trouble with the wand is it selects all the green including the half of the image you want to keep as I hadn't merged the layers at that point

[ChrisLumix]

trouble with the wand is it selects all the green including the half of the image you want to keep as I hadn't merged the layers at that point

 

You didn't create a separate layer of the right hand side of the picture, from which you intended to extract the figure?

[Guest]

nope didnt need too but that is another way of doing it

[ChrisLumix]

nope didnt need too but that is another way of doing it

 

That would have allowed you to use the magic wand rather than the fiddlier one-pixel eraser. Just a thought.

[Guest]

I had tried the magic wand but it was struggling with the dark colour of the wetsuit and the dark colours in the background

[ChrisLumix]

I had tried the magic wand but it was struggling with the dark colour of the wetsuit and the dark colours in the background

 

Even after increasing the sensitivity?

[JMRead]

Hello

 

I think this is a situation that calls for the Pen tool, where there are adjacent areas of similar tonal/brightness value but different colours the other tools fail.

 

Make a path around the image and include the bits in the middle you also want to remove, convert the path (after saving it) to a selection, modify it by contracting it 2 or 3 pixels smooth it by the same amount and then feather the selection by 0.5 pixels.

 

If you want to keep the image and use it to go into another one as a layer, copy it CTRL+C, make a new image CTRL+N paste it CTRL+V I don't use CTRL+E to flatten them but keep them as a separate layer.
 
Apologies if you already know this :-)

 

Jim

[ChrisLumix]

Hello

 

I think this is a situation that calls for the Pen tool, where there are adjacent areas of similar tonal/brightness value but different colours the other tools fail.

 

Make a path around the image and include the bits in the middle you also want to remove, convert the path (after saving it) to a selection, modify it by contracting it 2 or 3 pixels smooth it by the same amount and then feather the selection by 0.5 pixels.

 

If you want to keep the image and use it to go into another one as a layer, copy it CTRL+C, make a new image CTRL+N paste it CTRL+V I don't use CTRL+E to flatten them but keep them as a separate layer.

 

Apologies if you already know this :-)

 

Jim

 

I saw the pen used in just this way in an online Photoshop tutorial, after which the tutor converted to a selection. I wondered why on earth he wasn't using the magnetic lasso which gives a selection as the end product anyway (a selection which can then be modified in the way you suggest, and then saved for future use too, and/or copied & pasted as a new layer). It does make me wonder if all users are as familiar with the magnetic lasso as I am, having used it since the year dot?

Edited February 23, 2014 by ChrisLumix

[JMRead]

Hello Chris,

 

I would say that it is a matter of personal choice and if we can suggest as many ways as possible that people can use to arrive at the same objective, then we will have done a great deal of good :-)

 

Cheers - Jem

[ChrisLumix]

Hello Chris,

 

I would say that it is a matter of personal choice and if we can suggest as many ways as possible that people can use to arrive at the same objective, then we will have done a great deal of good :-)

 

Cheers - Jem

 

I'm sure you're right Jem - after all, Photoshop offers many ways to skin the proverbial cat, and it's usually a matter of preference or familiarity which determines what we go for. I'm currently watching a lot of online tutorials about layer masks, and I'm thinking that if I used them, my files would be a lot smaller than my current methodology of mixing adjustment layers with duplicated layers in order to achieve non-destructive editing.

[Craftysnapper]

Richard a separate layer would have allowed you to have positioned the subject coming partially out of the frame in a true out of bounds effect.

[pdcpic]

I agree about seperate layers, I also would have used the magnetic lasso and then the refine edges menu. 
There are so many way of doing this, and what ever works for you works best. but working in layers gives you that bit of safety when you do something wrong and gives you more room to play as suggested above

 

Richard a separate layer would have allowed you to have positioned the subject coming partially out of the frame in a true out of bounds effect.

[kev7d]

Selection! I am saying nothing. I think the goal is achieving credible backgrounds that look real and suit the image.

[Guest]

wow a year later and its still getting comments, This was never meant to be a master class just the basic principles for people to get their head around the concept, thanks everyone for helpful hints and tips for better selection tools use of layers etc. I tried not to talk about specific photoshop tools and layers etc as not all editing software is the same so I just wanted to explain the principle then everyone can use their own software

[fuzzyedges]

My take is

Eraser for easy deletion

Pen tool for geometric designs

Magic wand for most of the ackward cut outs

but thats photoshop

Edited February 18, 2015 by fuzzyedges

[Guest]

Just for fun my quick go at a out of bounds using the out of bounds tool in Photoshop

Elements 12.

Edited February 19, 2015 by OlyPaul

[ChrisLumix]

Nice processing, though it does make the dog look unnaturally elongated - perhaps (being white) it should be leaping into a darker background?

[kev7d]

For me I now just use the quick section / magic wand tool and finish off with the fine remask tool.

[Barbara]

My Photoshop effort

[Craftysnapper]

Very nice but I would have left the drop shadow of it Barbara.

[pdcpic]

4 hours ago, OlympusPaul said:

Very nice but I would have left the drop shadow of it Barbara.

i think without the drop shadow it would look fake.  I love the image best one so far in this thread

[ChrisLumix]

I do like it, but I think the drop shadow is too strong. Perhaps a lighter more subtle use of it...?