Knock it Out!
Removing Backgrounds with Photoshop

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Photoshop offers a wide variety of tools for removing backgrounds. I'll walk you through a few of my favorite methods for pulling objects out of their backgrounds with Photoshop. Click on a thumbnail below for step-by-step instructions on removing the background with Photoshop 5.5.

Background Eraser Tool
This technique uses the background eraser tool in Photoshop 5.5. Total time to remove the background from this image was under 3 minutes.
Channel Mask
This technique uses channels to create a mask. Total time to remove the background from this image was under 2 minutes.
Magnetic Lasso Tool
This technique uses the magnetic lasso tool and quick mask mode in Photoshop 5. Total time to remove the background from this image was about 10 minutes.
Pen Tool
This technique uses the pen tool to create a path around the image and convert the path to a selection. Total time to remove the background from this image was about 15 minutes.
Combination of Techniques
This technique uses a combination of techniques to remove the background. Total time for this image was about 20 minutes.

Remember, if you have a favorite tool or technique that works for you, you're always welcome to share it in the forum.

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