Remove Background Around Hair In Photoshop Elements 11, 12, & 13

GO TO: bit.ly/1CYQyPY To see the written version & download the free "cheat sheet"!
The powerful Edge Detection feature in Photoshop Elements lets you make selections around hair and other fine detail. Now it's easier to move a subject from one photo to a different photo.
This is Part-1 of a 2 part series. Here's the link to Part-2:
• How To Change Backgrou...

[@vorrison]

This and the subsequent video, are two of the best photoshop elements tutorials I have seen. Not only has it shown how to select hair detail, something I have struggled with for years, but also how to selectively remove a partial colour cast. The great thing about these videos is that you are not just shown the best way to do something, but you are led into the solution, by showing partial fixes, and so when the optimum solution is shown it is made so much better. Thanks Rick, these videos have been really helpful.

[@nigelhourigan7019]

Excellent video and great teacher all delivered with a calm and clear voice. Thanks Rick

[@FJMAY]

A great tutorial. The best on this subject to be found anywhere.

[@dianegass1014]

This was an awesome video with tons of information! I have been digiscrapping for 8 years with PSE and I never even heard of the Edge Detection tool! Your video will certainly help me with extractions of my grandaughter's hair!! Thank you. I am becoming a subscriber right now!

[@lisettevial2629]

Great! Much clearer explanation than others I have watched. Easier way too! Thank you!

[@barbinak8415]

I just purchased Photoshop Elements 15 after living with PSE 3 for over 10 years. I will be trying to update my skills as I work with the new editor. Thank you, Rick. Your video tutorials are so helpful--- and I like the way you zoom on the icons and boxes so I know EXACTLY what you are doing!! :-)

[@cre8tveldy]

Excellent tutorial! You helped me select my granddaughter and her very curly hair for editing her photos. Thank you!

[@Niccolo_gv]

Great Great TUT! Thank you very much Rick!!!

[@ronmote5550]

a really CLEAR lesson of a complex process... I'll watch this several times! Thanks Rick!

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Ron - You're welcome. Yeah this one could take some time to absorb, but if you get the hang of it its really good to know. - Rick

[@beaconoflight37]

Thank you sooooo much for this video. I have used some of what you showed but never knew how much more it could do. This was a very big help. Much appreciated!

[@myrtleseaver3276]

Very good Rick. You always explain everything in ways that are so easy to understand. There is never that "what did he just do?"because you cover all the details.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Myrtle - I'm so happy to hear you say that. Thanks! - Rick

[@Buzzwagner1]

Thanks, Rick. It's always driven me nuts. In addition to hair, I want to try it with leaves on trees when I replace a blasted-out sky with a blue one. Thanks again.

[@lindzritt]

AMAZING. BEST video. Thank you!

[@bobhatcher5505]

My favorit all time PE video, thanks Rick!

[@tomwolves6953]

great video, now if I can only remember all the adjustments. Thank you!

[@TheTucsonJeff]

Rick, I've seen several videos about using the refine edge feature to deal with hair. Your video is BY FAR the best I've seen on this subject. Congratulations on a job very very well done!!

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Jeff - Wow thank you, I'm flattered! I appreciate your kind words. - Rick

[@Hayaaclothing]

Great tutorial! Will subscribed. Thanks

[@Crowuk01]

Hi Rick, just a note to say thank you for sharing, I learnt a lot from this tutorial about the features of Photoshop Elements. Thank you

[@EssentialPSElements]

+Steve Yates Hi Steve - Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for letting me know! - Rick

[@joeprete7424]

Great Job Rick!

[@jocelynelebon5230]

You are the best, Rick!

[@MrMoonpie001]

Thanks Rick, a bit complicated but of great benefit to show this example. The trouble shooting is the key and how to do it. I followed all you said and got a grip. Thanks, looking forward to part 2! Rich

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Rich - Yes, it's a bit complicated and if the background is too busy it doesn't always work. But usually it's amazing how well it does work. Check the description below the video. I will be adding a link to my website where I have the steps written out with screen shots. That might help you out. Good luck! - Rick

[@metometo7792]

Excellent video and you presented it perfectly. So easy to understand and at a slow enough pace that I didn't have to rewind any part of it. Thank you very much for taking the time to post this.

[@EssentialPSElements]

+Meto Meto I'm happy to hear that you found it helpful. I found your feedback helpful, thanks for being specific! - Rick

[@eschamion]

Awesome! Thanks

[@libbybonpua8170]

Got it finally! Thanks Ric. I wish I could say more.

[@Alib123456789100]

Oh Wow, thank you so much! Look forward to the next part.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Ali - You're very welcome, glad you liked it. - Rick

[@freedomearthmoon1]

Excellent tutorial Rick. You covered a lot of the aspects selection, refine edge and how to deal with color casts. All in a relatively short tutorial for so much instruction. I've seen a lot of tutorials for "Refine Edge" and use it all the time. But this is the first time I've seen how to take full advantage of the "Show Radius" view. I've been using PS for a number of years and I just picked up a great new way to refine my technique. Thanks!

[@EssentialPSElements]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful, thank you for the great feedback.- Rick

[@hermange44]

There are already a lot of videos concerning this fantastic tool but your's is the best I have ever seen since you explain every setting ( even color decontamination what other's don't ) Moreover I am french and translate your videos for my friends who don't speak english.You speak not too fast and that's make easy to do the job Keep teaching and thank's

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Philippe - Thank YOU for you're kind comments. I'm very happy that you found the video helpful. That's awesome that you're translating for your friends! Keep up the good work! - Rick

[@obamasuckss]

Wow great video !

[@MrRudyc]

GREAT,GREAT, and more betterist! thanks Rick!

[@mgklivisi]

Excellent tips and clear english speaking. Thanks. Greetings from Greece.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Michael - Glad you liked it. Hope all is well in Greece. Thanks for the feedback. - Rick

[@marysch2011]

excellent video!

[@linnerlu]

Wow, I finally got around to watching this, thank you so much! What a great tutorial.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hey Linda - You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it and I really appreciate all of your comments. Keep 'em coming. - Rick

[@NIGHTROCKER70]

Thank you so much! I'm a complete rookie who's dying to learn how to use my Elements 11 program. I can do a few things I've learned by watching wonderful tutorial video's such as your's :) Do you recommend a starting point/video for me. You are at a Master type level it would seem to me,any suggestion on where to begin would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. And Happy Easter!

[@EUROWEFILMS]

Just bought 15, great tutorial, thanks...

[@brianarsenault9281]

Your very thorough and keep close attention to detail. Consider myself fortunate to have viewed this video ... Thank you!

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Brian - You're welcome. Very happy to hear that you liked it. Thanks for the feedback! - Rick

[@cappybenton]

This is a great video. I own a copy of PSE 11 and I'm trying to figure out how to use it.

[@efdominguez]

Perfect!!

[@An.Individual]

you did a fantastic job of explaining this process

[@EssentialPSElements]

Thanks Dude, glad you liked it! - Rick

[@mduke555]

I've used this tool before, but never realized there were so many additional options to improve the final product! WOW! Thanks!

[@EssentialPSElements]

You're welcome. That's great to hear, thanks for the feedback. - Rick

[@woodyham1]

Another great tutorial. Many thanks

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hey Woody - I appreciate that, you're very welcome! - Rick

[@jackieconnell7183]

both 1 and 2 are class

[@maggieadair7286]

This was really good & I will certainly try it out

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Maggie - Yes, you can get some pretty amazing results with this technique. - Rick

[@packard8]

Great tutorial; wish there was a "live chat line" as the video generates many questions! Will have to go with one question: Once the color alterations have been completed on the image of the dog, do you then hit "save" to keep the changes? If so, where does the new/final image save to? The mask? Thanks.

[@ronywilson787]

I am a beginner. I feel like something is missing right at the beginning. I see that the pictures that you are using are already in a psd file marked at 50% RGB/8. I am having trouble getting the desired results from your excellent explanations and I am wondering if as a beginner there was something I needed to do to the jpg file at the beginning that is blocking my success. Is there a video prior to this one? What am I missing?

[@BERENICECG]

Thank you Rick, nice and clear!!

[@EssentialPSElements]

You're welcome Berenice, I appreciate the feedback! I like your skull and crossbones avatar! - Rick

[@BERENICECG]

:) Thanks

[@MsLaps123]

Hi. Great tutorial. But I have a question. In refine edge when I start using the brush, why the hair that I want to bring out turns grey? :(

[@BubblesPothowari]

Brilliant. To the point.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Thanks, glad you liked it. - Rick

[@SueChenTranslationpluss]

Thanks Mr Peterson.

[@EssentialPSElements]

You're welcome Xue! - Rick

[@mbaig50]

Rick, thanks for the video. It was very helpful. Can you please tell me what software you use to record your voice? It comes out so clear. Of course your voice quality has something to do with it. But share with us about the recording software. Thanks.

[@saraswati620]

great tutorial thank you

[@EssentialPSElements]

You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it. - Rick

[@InLawsAttic]

helps me understand a lot even though I am in elements 10 - thanks a lot!

[@EssentialPSElements]

Glad it helped! - Rick

[@DrinkingStar]

One of the best video tutorials for Photoshop that I have ever seen. I recently updated to Photoshop Elements 14 from version 9. Can you do a video showing the use of the refine tool for version 14? I am having trouble using that tool. What is new in version 14's refinement tool that is missing from your tutorial? I hope you do cover all the new features in version 14 with your tutorials.

[@EssentialPSElements]

+DrinkingStar Glad you liked it! I've been meaning to cover more of PSE 14. Until I do you can check out some good ones that Chuckie did. Here's the link to his channel: kzbin.info

[@ralphgodinez6417]

Need your help. I'm able to remove "my piper" from the photo but when I do I just remove "piper" from the photo. It leaves a black silhouette. I can't figure out to remove the background. I'm using PE 12.

[@jbr84tx]

I like how you try different things and if they don't work, try something else to solve the problem.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@sethgarrisonproductions]

This worked perfect for me up until I went to save the output to "new layer with layer mask". It has it "grayed" out and will not allow me to save my changes. Do you know anything to help me out?

[@HTGGeorge]

+Leni Seth Walden Hi, Make sure that you are in RGB mode and not Index or other mode. You can check under Image/Mode

[@YourRightSide]

great tutorial... one question though.. by desaturating individual colors the white looks desaturatd and does not match to vibrant colorful black hairs... is there any better way to do this.. thanks again.

[@HTGGeorge]

+Kuldeep Negi Hi, try this, you need to add some punch back into the white. So go to Enhance/Adjust Lighting/Levels. In the Input Levels move the right side pointer (white point) a little to the left. This will brighten up the white areas

[@scottieable1111]

This is great...but I have elements 8. Can I upgrade to elements 11 with a download or do I have to buy the entire new program.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Lynne - You can upgrade to Photoshop Elements 13 (which is the latest version) from Adobe. Go to their website and search for Photoshop Elements and you should see the upgrade option. You get $20 off by upgrading vs buying new. But I recommend you check prices at Amazon and B&H Photo before upgrading. You might be able to buy PS Elements 13 for cheaper than upgrading. Good luck! - Rick

[@fionathompson408]

You are a star! I just purchased Photoshop Elements 13 to discover that it doesn't include Magic Extractor! Is this the best alternative to that? Thank you for taking the time to do this. I make wire jewelry and that is extremely difficult to cut out of an image to get a pure white background for Amazon.

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Fiona - I would say that using Edge Detection is probably the best way to isolate fine detail like hair. However, I usually decide which Selection Tool to use based on each photo because there can be so many variables. With wire jewelry, it is probably "fine" as far as size, but I would think that you would usually have a hard or solid edge to define it from the background of the photo. So in that case, it might work better to zoom way up and use the Lasso Tool (just to give a "for example"). Or maybe you could use the Quick Selection Tool to select the background and just delete it. That's why I think it's a good idea to get familiar with all the Selection Tools and then eventually you'll discover which work best for different types of situations. Thanks for your comments and kind words. Good luck! - Rick

[@joeprete7424]

Fiona, I think you should try to get the Best images that you can possibly get~ in Camera. ...The best cure, is often Prevention. I think you have come to the right place though, Rick is an Excellent Instructor!

[@smuke]

Is this better or photoshop for drawing?

[@EssentialPSElements]

The full version of Photoshop will give you more options. - Rick

[@udeeization]

I'm sorry. I dont understand how when you expand the radius to get the detail...why do you not get the background along with it ??

[@EssentialPSElements]

Hi Udee - Yeah, it can be confusing. By expanding the radius you're expanding the area where you want Photoshop Elements to LOOK for detail. PS Elements uses it's algorithms to include the areas that are more like the area inside the original Selection. Hope that helps! - Rick

[@stephenpayne1525]

HOllly crap! This guy is a photoshop gurU!