Easy Cut-Out

For Patrick.

This image was created using Paint Shop Pro 8 but should be adaptable to other versions.
It has also been reduced for web viewing.

Don't have Paint Shop Pro? Get a trial version here...Corel
Version 8 is no longer available. Version XI (11) has been released.
You may still be able to buy other versions at Amazon

*****
Ever want to cut out a part of a larger image to use elsewhere.
Well try this.
All you need is Paint Shop Pro.

Open the image with the part you want to cut out.

If the image is not a pspimage you must follow these steps to continue.

1. On the menu select Layers>Promote Background Layer

2. Save as ?.pspimage (?=whatever you want to call it)

Now lets do the cut out.

3. On the tool bar select the Freehand Selection Tool.

4. On the Freehand Selections options bar under selection type, select point to point.

5. Draw point to point around the object,
as close to the area you want cut-out as possible.

when you come to the end,
where the two points will finally meet/join,
double click when you join them.

You will now see an animated line going around the area you just cut.

That line is referred to as a marquee or marching ants.
On the menu, under Selections,
you can turn the marquee off by selection Hide Marquee.
the shortcut key is CTRL+SHIFT+M

6. On the menu, Edit>Cut, then minimise the ?.pspimage

7. On the menu, Edit>Paste as New Image

8. Save as ??.pspimage (??=new name)

9. Minimise your new ??.pspimage and maximise the ?.pspimage.

10. Close the ?.pspimage
11. When asked to save the changes select No. (remains as in step 2.)

12. Maximise your new ??.pspimage.

See how the edges are pretty ruff.
Lets clean them up a bit.

13. On the menu Selections>Select All

14. On the tool bar select the magic wand

15. With the magic wand click on the blank area.
You will now see the marquee again.

16. On the menu Selections>Invert.

17. On the menu Selections>Modify>Feather

18. In the feathering window click on the proofing tools icon to see
the feathering directly on your cut-out.

19. Enter the number of pixels, 3 or whatever is best. When satisfied click ok.

20. Select the eraser tool. On the eraser tools options bar input 85 in the Hardness area.
this is optional, you may want to use 100.

21. Erase around your cut-out.

22. On the menu Selections>Select none.

23. Save your image.

Now if the first erase still left some edgy parts then do it again from step 13,
erasing only those areas that require it.
You may need to increase the pixels in step 4 to get deeper areas where required.

Wasn't that easy.

Thank you, Patrick.
Enjoy.
~Lana~