photoshop CS2 silhouette

**jackimo** · October 11th, 2005, 02:33 PM

how would i make a high quality silhouette of an image?

example
http://www.techimo.com/forum/attachm...id=15375&stc=1
untitled.JPG

**xianrowanx** · October 11th, 2005, 04:14 PM

draw a selection around the skiier with lasso tool, magnetic lasso tool, a layer mask, however is easiest for you.
copy him (ctrl c)
paste him (ctrl v) (now he is his own layer above the original)
make sure his layer is selected in your layers window
go to image, adjustments, brightness and contrast.
lower contrast to -100... lower brightness to -100

you should now have a silhouette.

**doddsy** · October 11th, 2005, 04:32 PM

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutoria...ng/masking.htm

masking difficult images..

**cryptoguy** · October 11th, 2005, 06:28 PM

Yes, you can use masking, or the extract tool. In the example you provided, the extract tool should do the trick because there is a pretty big difference in color of the background and the foregorund. Masking is more time-consuming, but could be more effective.

**OuTpaTienT** · October 16th, 2005, 03:21 PM

It really depends on how you intend to use the silhouette. If you are going to use it in a scene with multiple colors and/or other objects then you may be able to get away with creating it via masking or as mentioned, the Extraction Tool. However if you intend on using the silhouette in a high contrast image, white on black or vice-versa, then you'll be much better off if you use the Pen Tool to create the silhouette. Sharp, crisp lines is what the Pen Tool is all about. Jobs like creating high contrast silhouettes is one of the reasons Photoshop even has a vector based Pen Tool.