246 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
FIGURE 16.9
Changing your
image size
using the Image
Size dialog box.Select a Component and Copy It
The proper selection process will make component images blend into the back-
ground image more easily. Almost all selection procedures are easier and more pre-
cise if you zoom the monitor image to 200 to 400 percent magnification.
Keep these tips in mind when selecting complex objects in an image:
■ If the colors of the background image and the component image are identi-
cal, select the area you want to copy with the Lasso tool. Feather the selection
and draw the selection far enough away from the subject so that it isn’t in
the feathered area.
■ If the background must be removed around the edges of the subject, try
selecting the background with the Magic Wand or the Color Range com-
mand. Then use Select, Inverse command to deselect the background and
select the subject.
■ If the background must be removed, but the edges of the subject are out of
focus or difficult to work with (such as hair), make selections with a Pen tool
because pens are precise and allow selection boundaries to be changed later
if they are not perfect. Many experienced users prefer to use masking,
another process for creating editable selections. You can read more about
masks in Chapter 17, “The Importance of Channels.”
■ Dedicated masking software such as Extensis Mask Pro works in conjunction
with Adobe Photoshop. These tools and plug-ins offer sophisticated features
that simplify creating selections.After making the selection, save the selection by choosing Select, Save Selection in
case you need to redo it.