Eliminate Distracting Background with the Photoshop Pen Tool

Taking pictures of babies and kids is difficult. I’m always hoping for a candid, well-framed shot with a clean background. Try accomplishing that while running after an exuberant four-year-old!

We all have shots we love but backgrounds we don’t. But guess what — you don’t have to scrap those too busy photos. Instead use the Photoshop pen tool to cut your subject out of the background. The background can then be replaced with any color or backdrop you desire.  Your pictures can be saved! Here are the basic steps to accomplish the technique:

  1. Open Photoshop and open the photograph you want to work with. Make a duplicate layer (Layer –> Duplicate Layer). All work will be done on the duplicate layer so as to preserve the original.
    2. Photo with distracting background

    Photo with distracting background

  2. Click on the pen tool on the tool bar to the right side of your screen. Be sure the new work path button is highlighted in the upper right hand portion of your screen.
    3. Photoshop Pen Tool

    Photoshop Pen Tool

    New Work Path Button (Upper right hand corner of screen)

    New Work Path Button (upper right hand corner of screen)

  3. Use the pen tool to point and click anchor points around your subject. I usually start with the picture full screen to make my initial anchor points. Be sure to go all the way around the subject and connect the beginning and ending anchor points.
    4. Close-up of anchor points

    Close-up of anchor points

  4. Use the zoom tool (the magnifying glass in the tool bar) to zoom in on your picture. Click on the + button in the upper right hand portion of the screen then click on your photograph to zoom in.
    5. Photoshop Zoom Tool

    Zoom Tool

    Zoom Tool Magnify Button

    Zoom Tool Magnify Button

  5. Click on the pen tool again and go to the add anchor point tool. Use this tool to add additional anchor points around your subject (the greater number of anchor points the smoother your lines will be).  Drag the anchor points to closely match the outline of your subject. If you find you have an anchor point you don’t want eliminate it using the delete anchor point tool found under the pen tool toolbar.

    The convert point tool (also found under the pen tool) will allow you to convert sharp points to a curved line. Simply click on the tool then click on the point. Play around with the different angles to get what you are looking for. Once your subject is highlighted you should have something that looks like this:

    6. Multiple Anchor Points with Pen Tool

    Multiple Anchor Points with Pen Tool

  6. Go to Window –> Paths to open the path toolbar. Your workpath will be visible in the screen.  Drag your workpath to the Load Path as Selection button (the dotted circle on the bottom of the paths tool bar). This will select your subject.

  7. Go to Select —> Inverse.  Hit delete and your background will be eliminated.
    Photo with background eliminated

    Photo with background eliminated and filled with black using paint bucket tool

  8. There may be portions in between the arms and legs that you would also like to eliminate.  If so highlight these areas by following steps 1-6. After step 6, do not select the inverse - simply hit delete. Now you are set fill the background with the color of your choice or add another photographic layer as a background. Play around and see what you can make happen! Once your learn the pen tool there is no limit to what you can do!

Shalet Abraham is a mother, veterinarian, blogger and avid amateur photographer. She blogs at peculiarmomma.blogspot.com.

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