Essential Masking Techniques #1 - Background Eraser Tool

This is part 1 of a series of 10 masking techniques that I will be explaining. The background eraser tool is a very quick, highly functioning tool. The one problem is that it does just what it says. Erases, not masks! Not to worry, I will show you how to use this handy tool effectively to create a sharp mask. I wish there were a background mask tool...


Good for: Touching up hair masks. Any subject that has a high contrast with the background.

Settings

• soft brush
• sampling: Once
• Limits: Contiguous
• Tolerance 50-100
• protect foreground checked

Technique

1. Duplicate original layer. 
2. Sample the color you want  to protect (hold down ALT to use spring-loaded color sample tool)
3. Erase the background touching the color you selected, the tool is quite flexible in terms of protecting similar colors.

     If you would like a non destructive element to work with:

1. ALT + left click the thumbnail of the result to get a selection.
2. Copy original layer then mask the new layer with the selection.

Tips

• Works best when you do not let go of the brush until you are finished with a particular section.
• To refine the result you should make the eraser size smaller and work in the tiny areas individually.
• Protect faint colors from the background that bleed onto your subject.

Quick Sample

              Before                                                                     After                                                                                                          

So there you have it. If I was not clear enough or I missed something let me know in the comments below!

Do you have any questions? comments? tips? I would be happy to hear from you! Get in touch through michaeljphotography.ca contact form. I would appreciate your follow @Jonssononline