This article will focus on the paths tool in photoshop. I use paths every time I need to cut an image out and get rid of the background. You can use the lasso tool but its not as clean as paths are plus if you make a mistake you have to start over. If you make a mistake using paths you can just go back one and fix it.

Open up an image in photoshop that you want to cut out. I am using a photo from matrix content www.matrixcontent.com for an example.

Now click on the paths tool (Its to the left of the text tool on your tool bar) If you hold down your mouse you will see that it opens up different path options like this.

The first icon sets the first anchor of the path and that's what we will start with. So make sure the first icon is selected in the path options and go over to your image and click on it anywhere. See how it sets an anchor? Now click somewhere else on your image and it will put another anchor with a line from each of them. It should look something like this.

Easy huh? Ok now lets try manipulating the path to fit a corner or curve. Go back to the paths tool on your toolbar and hold down the mouse so it brings up the different path tool options. Drag your mouse over to the one that looks like a paint brush and a + Select that and then go back over to your image and click on the line in the middle of the two anchors and it will put another anchor in the middle.

After you make the new middle anchor click on it again but this time hold down your mouse button and move it around. See how it looks like it stretches it in a arch? Let go of your mouse button and it will drop it where you left it. If you need to modify it again go ahead and click on it and move it around some more. If you decide that you put an anchor in the wrong place select the paintbrush with a - in the path options. When that is selected click on any anchor point to get rid of it.

Now that you know the basic in laying down path anchors lets try to cut an actual image out. Go back to the first path tool that we used to make the first anchor and select that. Go to your image and click on one of the end anchor boxes. Start

laying down those path anchors all the way around your image till you come back to the first anchor box. Click on that to close the path. In order to get a clean looking image cut out I put an anchor right before a curve then right after a curve then go back and stretch it around the curve.

After you have all your anchors in place all the way around your image you are ready to get rid of the background. In photoshop on top of the layers box their should be a tab on it that says paths. If it doesn't then go up to the pull down menu and select windows then show paths. It should look like this

Click on the work path and while holding down your mouse button drag it to the bottom of the box and let go of it over the broken circle. This will turn your path into a loaded selection. Your image should now have flashing dotted lines all the way around it.

Now you have several options allowing you to get rid of the background. You can do a copy (ctrl c) then open up a new blank document (ctrl n) then paste (ctrl v) your new outlined selection into that new document,
Or you can inverse the loaded selection, duplicate that layer and hit delete. Then delete the original layer and it will leave you with the freshly cut out image.

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