It doesn't matter what your goal is to create the silhouette. If the silhouette is made well, the empty space will be filled and an image can look more beautiful. There are many ways to create a silhouette. Learning how to create a good silhouette is a great way to familiarize yourself with Photoshop and some basic skills.
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Method 1 of 3: Quickly Create Silhouettes
Step 1. Open an image whose background is simple and easy to distinguish
This method is especially suitable for simple and easy images, where the subject of the image is clearly separated from the background. This method works best when the images you want to silhouette are of very different colors, are spaced apart, or are easily separated.
If there is a lock symbol on the image layer after unlocking it, just double click on the layer and press "Enter" to unlock the layer
Step 2. Duplicate the layer to make sure the original image is not damaged
To do so, just right click on the layer and select "Duplicate". You can also click Layer → Duplicate Layer from the top bar, or press Cmd+J or Ctrl+J.
Step 3. Use the Quick Selection Tool (w) to quickly select the object to be silhouetted
For more precision, you'll need to smooth out the selection, but for a basic silhouette you should be able to quickly click and drag the Quick Selection Tool on the image to select the object. If you can't find the Quick Selection tool, it's the fourth button on the toolbar, and you may have to click and hold "Magic Wand" to bring it up. For more control:
- Hold down alt=""Image" or Opt while clicking to remove unused portions of the image selection.</li" />
- Use the two [and] buttons to zoom in or out on the selected area of the image, making it more or less precise.
- Switch to the Magic Wand to quickly select all the pixels of a similar color. Ctrl -click to increase the selection area, alt-click to reduce the selection area.
Step 4. Drag the "Hue and Saturation" adjustment to the area you selected
While remaining active in the selection area, click Image → Adjustments → Hue and Saturation. You can also get to this menu by:
- "Hue and Saturation" option from the Adjustment panel. This panel is usually located at the top right of the layers panel.
- Pressing Cmd+U or Ctrl+U
Step 5. Check the "colorize" box for Hue/Saturation, then drag the three sliders to the left
Set the Hue and Saturation slider to "0, " and the Lightness to "-100." Then click "OK." Your image will be silhouetted, or at least much darker. If the silhouette is too light on the first attempt, open the Hue/Saturation option again and do it again. Continue lowering the lightness value until the silhouette is finished.
Method 2 of 3: Creating Vector Silhouettes
Step 1. Use a vector silhouette if you want to adjust, zoom in, zoom out, or export the silhouette without sacrificing image quality
The vector scale can be easily adjusted without compromising image quality. If you're using silhouettes professionally, or just want a more versatile finish, this is the way to go.
Adobe Illustrator (AI) uses vectors almost exclusively. If you are using AI, skip the quick way and use the method below
Step 2. Create a new layer above the original image
If you've duplicated the layer to make sure the original image isn't damaged, that's enough. Just make sure you're working on the second layer, above the original image. To create a new layer, press Cmd+⇧ Shift+N or Ctrl+⇧ Shift+N
Step 3. Select the image to be silhouetted with the Pen Tool
Select the Pen Tool (P) from the toolbar. Find the small drop down menu that says "Path" in the menu that appears at the top of the Photoshop screen. It's located at the top right of the screen, but only appears when the Pen Tool is active. Change the menu until the label changes to "Shape."
Step 4. Use the Pen Tool to mark your entire silhouette
Mark the shape of your silhouette. To make things easier, lower the opacity value of the new layer you're working with by changing the "Opacity" at the top of the layers panel.
Step 5. Connect the dots to complete your silhouette
Once you return to the starting point, the marking dots will disappear and the shape will appear in front of you. Raise the opacity to 100% again to see the silhouette.
Step 6. Click and drag the silhouette onto its own image, into Illustrator, or leave it to finish your silhouette
Once the shape is visible, you can do anything you would normally do. If you want to isolate the image so that it's just a silhouette, delete all layers below it or click and drag it into a new Photoshop document.
Method 3 of 3: Separating the Image from the Background
Step 1. Duplicate your original image layer to get a separate copy of your silhouette
To create a professional quality silhouette, you will need a little more time to effectively select the objects to be silhouetted. Since some of the techniques used require removing or altering the original image, it is highly recommended to duplicate the layer now and leave the original image with the lock. With it, you will avoid damaging the original image.
To duplicate a layer, just right-click the layers panel, then select "Duplicate Layer…"
Step 2. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create the most precise and perfect outline for the silhouette
In many ways, the Pen Tool is one of Photoshop's most powerful tools. However, it takes time to get used to using it. Select the Pen Tool from the menu, or press P. Then, click to create small dots around the outline of the silhouette. After you finish selecting the area, a "Path" or solid line will appear around the entire image. When you're done, just right-click on the path and select "Make Selection."
- If you are working on a very curved shape, try using the "Free Form Pen Tool". Find this tool by clicking and holding the Pen Tool on the toolbar.
- The Pen Tool is very precise, only if you know how to use it. Take the time to experiment with this tool, especially if you're dealing with curves. The Pen Tool works very well at marking out shapes, if you practice using it often.
Step 3. Use the Magic Wand tool (W) to separate the simple background by 1 - 2 colors
For example, the image you are going to make a silhouette of is a woman standing with her back to the sky, which is mostly blue. Instead of an image of a girl, you can choose an image of the sky behind her. Then, remove the sky from the layer. Use the Magic Wand to select the background, then delete it until only the image remains to be silhouetted.
Change the tolerance in the top bar to decrease or increase the Wand precision. A higher number (75-100) will select a wider range of colors, while a lower tolerance (such as 1-10) will select only pixels that are very similar in color
Step 4. Use another area selector tool to mark simple objects
The most intuitive tools for making area selections are usually easy to use, although they require a calm hand and a little patience. All these tools are the same principle, click and drag around the object to select an area of the image. You can increase the selection by holding down Ctrl/Cmd while clicking, or decrease the already selected one by holding Alt/Opt.
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Quick Selection:
It looks like a brush with a circular dotted line around the brush. This tool will select anything that is about the same color or brightness, following the edges of the shape.
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Lasso Tools:
There are many options here. Each requires you to click the mouse, then manually mark the object. Clicking again will create an anchor point, while completing a circle or shape will end the area selection session.
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Shaped Selections:
It looks like a circle of dots, but can be clicked and held to reveal various other shapes. This tool allows you to easily make selections of geometrically shaped areas. When used with Ctrl/Cmd or Alt/Opt, they can be a great way to increase or decrease the selection area and make it neater.
Step 5. Ctrl- click on a layer from the layers menu to select it automatically. If you have an isolated object to be silhouetted against, and that object already has its own layer, Photoshop will mark it for you. Just hold down Ctrl or Cmd and click the thumbnail of the layer -- the edges of the selected area will appear automatically.
Step 6. Use "Refine Edge" to select perfectly
This menu is a great tool for making subtle changes to areas of your choice. Open with Selection → Refine Edge. There will be various options here:
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Radius:
Allows you to shrink the edges of the selected area.
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Smooth:
Round and smooth points and corners.
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Feather:
Blur all the edges.
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Contrast:
Makes the selected area more pointed and sharper -- the opposite of "Smooth."
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Shift Edge:
Enlarges or shrinks the selected area by percentage.
