10 Photoshop Techniques You Can't Work Without:

 

3. Knock Out Layer Colors:

Summary: Ever find an image that's merged with an undesirable background? Typically we can use selection tool to extract parts of it, but if the image is intricate and doesn't have clearly defined edges, selection tools can leave ugly, jagged edges. Luckily, layer blending options allow us to to knock out undesirable solid colors with smooth results in seconds.

 

 

 

Shown: Here we have a layer containing an image of colored leaves on a black background. The leaves and background are merged together. Our goal is to isolate the leaves from the background.

 

 

Step 1: With the leaves layer selected, left-click the "Add A Layer Style" icon and select "Blending Options".

 

 

Step 2: In the "Layer Style" pop-up, ALT+Click the right half of the black slider arrow and drag it towards the right. Notice how black is gradually knocked out of the image the farther you drag.

Caution! Be sure to ALT+Click the RIGHT HALF of the slider arrow. Not the whole thing!

Tip: Other colors can be knocked out besides black. Dragging the white slider arrow in a similiar way knocks out white. Use the "Blend If" drop-down to switch color mode from "Grey" to "Red", "Green", or "Blue" to knock out those colors.

 

 

Shown: Slider arrow as it appears after dragging.

 

 

Shown: Original image with the black background knocked out.