Changing Photo Background Part 1

Changing the Background in Adobe Photoshop PART 1

There are various ways to change the background in Adobe Photoshop, but this is my favorite way since I can control how refined the edges of the selection becomes.

1. Double click the background layer in the layers palette to turn it to layer 0. Click OK to change it to layer 0.

2. Pick the magnetic lasso tool from the swatch, and trace the person or object in the photo that you like to preserve

3. When you finish selecting the object, right click on the selection (picture) & pick select inverse. This will automatically inverse the selection from the object you picked, to the background that you want to change.


4. The next step is to refine the selection so that the end result will look as legit as possible. Right click on the selection & choose refine edges. Here is what you’ll see:
Radius: To improve the edge in soft transitions or fine details
Contrast: Makes soft edges crisp
Smooth: Removes jagged edges
Feather: Smoothens the selection edge with a soft blur
Contract/Expand: Increase or decrease selection edge

Click the icons below the above items to place a highlight on the selection that you’ve made. That way you can immediately see the changes or a preview of what you are creating.

I want to emphasize the items above. I want you guys to play around with them and try adjusting the sliders to different values so that you can clearly see the effect of manipulating the values on the edges of the selection.

Concentrate on perfecting the selections first, before we go to the Part 2 of this Guide.