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Tip #38: Photo Silhouette (Photoshop CS2)
By: Donna ChapmanI was asked the other day if it were possible to create an old time silhouette of a child using a photo in Photoshop. I responded “I don’t see why not” so now I have put up or shut up.
First choose a photo with a good side view of your subject. This could prove difficult since children like to look at the camera so you may need someone else to get their attention from the side while you snap away.
My first thought was it would be very simple. I would just highlight the subject and fill it in with black, then erase the background to white. NOT!!! As you can see below this may work eventually but it is not that crisp image I was looking for.
Make a new duplicate layer (control + J) twice.
Click on your background layer and make certain that you are set to the default colors of black and white then press (Control + Backspace) to fill the layer with white.
Turn off Layer 1 using the eye icon. This layer is just to help with seeing the difference later. Then select the Layer 1 Copy layer and using either Tip #14 or #16 erase the background. (I used #16 as it allows me the option to touch up with the history brush afterwards)
Press (Shift+Alt+Backspace) to fill in what is left with black.
Now just do a bit of clean up work either erasing or using your lasso and deleting areas or setting your paint brush to black and filling in any missing spots and you are ready to print and frame your artwork.
Photoshop Tip #38: Donna Chapman donnaichapman@yahoo.com
