- Clipping Creations India
- April 10, 2023
- Tutorial
Hair has complex edges. That is why cutting them out is more challenging than the subjects with straight edges. Is it possible to separate the hairs from the background accurately? Yes, it is. Then how to cut out hair from image in Photoshop?
In Photoshop, you can use the Layer Mask option to cut out complex hair from an image precisely. First, separate the subject from the background using the select subject tool. Then refine the edges and remove the excess part with the brush tool.
It was a quick overview of the detailed process. Today, we will be discussing the whole process in detail. Continue reading till the end to learn how you cut out hair from images in Photoshop.
How to Cut Out Hair from Image in Photoshop: Step-by-Step Guide
Can you precisely cut out hair from images in Photoshop? Yes, you can.
You can do it in various ways for a straight hairline. But when the edges are complex, it becomes tougher. That’s why we always prefer using hair masking. Image masking can do the job perfectly, whether the edges are straight or complex.
Here is the full step-by-step tutorial for cutting out hair from images in photoshop:
Step 1: Open the photo
First, open the Photoshop software on your desktop. We are using the Photoshop CC 2020 version, but the process is the same for the latest versions and some earlier versions.
Then, click on the File option in the top left corner and select Open. Then, select the photo you want to edit, and it will open on Photoshop.
Step 2: Select Subject
Now, you need to separate the subject from the background. The subject here is the human.
To remove the background, first, you need to select the subject. Click on the Select option and then choose Subject.
It will automatically detect the subject on the photo and will select it. You will notice some flickering lines around the body.
Step 3: Add & Remove the selection
However, the select subject option always does not work perfectly. If the background is a single color or the edge of the subject is straight, then it may do the job accurately.
But in our photo, it failed to detect the edges with 100% precision. That is why we will make corrections manually using the lasso tool.
Click on the lasso icon from the tools bar on the left. Now, you must add some parts inside the selection area and remove some parts from the area.
- Add: Press & hold the Shift button and select the areas that you want to take inside the selection area.
- Remove: Press & hold the ALT button and select the areas that you want to remove from the selection area.
While adding or removing the areas, zoom in on the edges to select more precisely.
Step 4: Layer Mask
After finalizing the selection area, click on the Layer Mask icon from the bottom of the right window.
The icon looks like a circle inside a rectangle or square shape. It will remove the background from the photo.
If the edges are sharp and straight, you will get a perfect result in this step. You can follow until the fourth step to remove anything from an image. But the edges of the hair are complex, so we need to do a little more work.
Step 5: Select and Mask
Now, click on Select from the menu bar and choose Select and Mask. A new select and mask dialogue box will appear on the right side.
You can select different background views from here, such as onion skin, On black, On white and more. You can select the one that you like and proceed. However, we like to work with the overlay mask.
You also can change the opacity of the background from the dialogue box. Keeping it between 50 to 60 is usually more helpful.
Step 6: Refine Edges
When you are masking the image, you will notice a new toolbar appearing on the left side with only a few options. Select the Refine Edge Brush Tool from here.
The tool helps to mask hard-to-select parts from the background. It will sample the texture from the background color and keep the texture inside the selection area.
Click and drag the brush all over the edges of the hair. Find areas where you need to separate the hair from the background. Continue doing it until you properly separate the hair.
Be careful not to use the brush too much in the inside area. It may make the hairs transparent too.
Now, set the output to the Layer Mask from the dialogue box on the right side and click OK from the bottom. Now, you can see the updated layer mask.
Step 7: Overlay
Even after refining the edges, the hairlines may still be imperfect. Press the ALT button and click on the layer mask.
Now you will have a better look at the edges. The white area is our main subject and is visible. Besides, the black area is the background and is invisible. You will find some shadowy or cloudy areas around the edges. You need to remove them to perfectly cut out the hair.
Press B or select the Brush Tool from the toolbar on the left. Then change the mode to Overlay from the option bar.
Then drag the brush around the edges to remove the cloudy areas. It will not modify the black or white areas due to using the overlay mode.
Lastly, click on the view mask, and you will see the updated subject. The work is done, and you have perfectly cut out the hair. Now, you can export the cut-out image to your desktop or place it on a new background.
Read more: How to Edit Senior Photos Like a Pro in 6 Simple Steps?
FAQs on How to Cut Out Hair from Image in Photoshop
Here are some commonly asked questions on cutting out hair from images in photoshop:
What is hair masking in Photoshop?
Hair masking in Photoshop is a process of selecting the hairs to distinguish them from the background. You can use a hair mask using the Layer Mask tool in Photoshop. It’s an excellent method to separate hairs with complex edges from the background.
How long does it take to cut out hair from an image in Photoshop?
Typically it takes 10 to 30 minutes to cut out hair from an image in Photoshop. However, the duration depends on your editing expertise and the complexity of the image.
Can the hair-cutting techniques in Photoshop be applied to other types of images?
Yes. You can follow the hair-cutting techniques in Photoshop to cut out other types of objects too. The process will be helpful when you are trying to cut out objects with complex edges.
Which photo editor can remove hair?
Photoshop is one of the best software to remove hair from an image. Besides, you also can use other photo editors such as PhotoScissors, RetouchMe, or FixThePhoto.
Conclusion
We have provided you with the best guide on cutting out hair from Photoshop images. While using the different tools, alter them depending on the nature of the photo. It will help you get better output.
Here at Clipping Creations India, we provide support of all kinds. To get cut-out hair images from a professional, feel free to reach us. You can also try out Free trial and get free samples of our experienced work.
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FAQs
How To Cut Out Hair From Image In Photoshop? | CCI? ›
We used the Lasso tool and left the edges of the hair outside the selection area — make sure you don't include parts of the background in your selection. Then, click the Select and Mask button to enter the workspace where most of the work to finesse the hair selection will occur.
How do you select loose hair in Photoshop? ›We used the Lasso tool and left the edges of the hair outside the selection area — make sure you don't include parts of the background in your selection. Then, click the Select and Mask button to enter the workspace where most of the work to finesse the hair selection will occur.
Can you edit hair out of a picture? ›YouCam Makeup is a popular app that offers a wide range of beauty tools, including hair, makeup, retouching, and photo editing features. It's user-friendly, free to download, and available for both iOS and Android devices. With YouCam Makeup, you can easily remove stray hairs and eyebrows, and even fix your hair part.
How do I isolate an object and remove the background in Photoshop? ›Alternatively, you can use the Cmd/Ctrl + F keyboard shortcut or choose Help > Photoshop Help from the menu bar. In the Discover panel, navigate to the Browse > Quick Actions and select Remove background. Click the Apply button to remove the background from your photo and have them ready to use in your composites.
How do I cut out a shape from a picture? ›- Upload Image. Upload your image by selecting or dragging and dropping media.
- Use the Cutout Tool. Cut out the subject from your picture with the smart selection.
- Download Cutout. Your Cutout is ready to download now.
We used the Lasso tool and left the edges of the hair outside the selection area — make sure you don't include parts of the background in your selection. Then, click the Select and Mask button to enter the workspace where most of the work to finesse the hair selection will occur.
How do you edit messy hair in Photoshop? ›After you create a new layer for your image, use the “Clone Stamp” tool to remove any stray or fly-away hair. Access the “Clone Stamp” tool in Photoshop by clicking “S” on your keyboard or by selecting the icon on the left side menu. Set the opacity and fill to a percentage that best fits the needs of your image.
Is there an app where you can take a picture of yourself and try different hairstyles? ›Hairstyle Magic Mirror Lite
Magic Mirror app allows you to experiment with the most popular hairstyles and different colors and styles to get a new look in the virtual world. It includes styles for women and men as well! You can take a photo of yourself or your friends, upload your picture from your gallery.
The manufacturer of Bleame hair eraser promises that body hair removal with its product is effective and painless. To remove body hair, glide Bleame hair removal tool gently over the skin. The hair is removed, including the roots. Your skin should feel soft and smooth after using the Sponge.
How do you remove embedded hair? ›To remove an ingrown hair, gently exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating your skin removes a dead layer of skin cells and helps release ingrown hairs. Use warm — not hot — water and small, circular motions to wash your affected areas with a washcloth, exfoliating brush or exfoliating gel or scrub.
Does Photoshop have a background remover tool? ›
Go to find Background Eraser tool under the Eraser submenu in Photoshop toolbox. Then, click and hold it or press the "E" to erase the unwanted background. The Eraser tool is handy but difficult to handle edges very well, so there are a few things to keep in mind: First, ensure that the brush is the appropriate size.
How to remove object without disturbing background in Photoshop? ›To do so, go to the menu Edit>Fill. In the pop-up window, open the Contents drop-down menu to choose the Fill type. To remove an object, select Content-Aware and click OK. Photoshop will analyze the image, remove the selected object, and fill it in how it thinks is best.
How do I isolate one object in Photoshop? ›Right-click on your selected area to remove it from the image. Selecting the image is the hard part. Once you have your dotted line around the image, simply right-click and choose how to isolate the image.
What is hair masking in Photoshop? ›This automatically creates a layer mask that hides the background around the person. Alternatively, you could use Select > Subject or the Quick Selection tool to select the person, and then click the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel to make a mask from your selection.
Which tool is used to split image in Photoshop? ›To split images in half in Photoshop, select the marquee tool by pressing M, then click and drag over half of your image to create a rectangular selection. With the selection active, right-click and select New Layer Via Cut. This will cut the image in half and place the selected half on a new layer.
What is slice tool in Photoshop? ›With the Slice tool, you select a square or rectangular area that you want to preserve, but rather than deleting everything else, you can export that selected area to its own fresh Photoshop document. You can also create multiple slices and save each one as its own document.
How to remove part of image and replace with another image in Photoshop? ›Clone Stamp Tool
Using the clone stamp tool to remove objects in a photo is an old-fashioned way. The clone stamp tool works by sampling one area of a photo and painting on another. That is, copy and paste the part you want to the part you don't want to keep, to cover and replace the removed content.
Cropping: If you want to remove parts of an image, you can crop it. You can think of cropping as using a pair of scissors to cut out the parts you no longer want.
How do I cut out part of an image without Photoshop? ›To cut out image without Photoshop is effortlessly done by the use of this well-known online tool called InPaint. You can take all the unwanted people on your image away with just one click. InPaint will let you select the person and any unnecessary objects on your image in just a few seconds.
What is object selection tool in Photoshop? ›The Object Selection tool is useful for automatically selecting objects or regions such as people, cars, pets, sky, water, buildings, plants, and mountains in an image. Select the Object Selection tool (W) from the toolbar in the workspace.
How do I extract hair with select and Mask in Photoshop? ›
Click the Select and Mask button again. Select the Refine Edge Brush tool, and drag over the edge of the hair. Drag the Shift Edge slider to the right to move the mask edge inward and hide imperfections. Click OK to close Select and Mask.
Which tool allows you to select fine hairs? ›Use the Lasso or Quick Selection tool to make the initial selection. We used the Lasso tool and left the edges of the hair outside the selection area — make sure you don't include parts of the background in your selection.
Can you edit hair in Photoshop? ›In the top menu, set the brush size. Paint over the edges of the hair and Photoshop will make a perfect selection of the hair. To achieve this, it will use the contrast between hair and background. If the result doesn't look good, you can start playing around with the settings in the Refine Edges window.
How do you fix bad hair in Photoshop? ›There is another option that can allow you to fix hair in Photoshop and that is to use the “Spot Healing Brush.” Access this brush by pressing “J” on your keyboard or click the icon on the left side menu. For this, select a soft-edge brush so the blending is less noticeable.
What is the refine hair tool in Photoshop? ›The Refine Edge Tool selects shapes such as hair, branches, or any part of an image with edges, especially complex ones. It allows you to precisely select these areas of the picture you want to crop out, such as your friend or family member.
How do you get rid of stray hair? ›- Use a Frizz-Fighting Shampoo and Conditioner. ...
- Try a Hydrating Hair System. ...
- Incorporate a Deep Conditioning Treatment Into Your Routine. ...
- Don't Dry Your Wet Hair With a Regular Towel. ...
- Use a Hair Serum. ...
- Use an Edge Brush With Hairspray. ...
- Take a Break From Heat Styling. ...
- Don't Brush Your Hair While It's Dry.
- Choose the right tool. ...
- Use hairspray. ...
- Tamp down baby hairs with cold air. ...
- Spray it with water. ...
- Apply a styling cream. ...
- Protect the strands against more breakage.