Class one photoshop tutorial

Cutting out the elephant figure from the jpg image

Duplicate the background layer by dragging the layer to the new layer symbol at the bottom of the Layer Window and letting it go or under Layer Menu duplicate layer. Take the Pen Tool from the tool box (make sure it is the Pen Tool and not one of the sub menu tools). Under the top menu, second row select path. You want to make a path not a shape. With the pen start laying anchor points around the elephant till you close the path. Use the Direct Select Tool to reposition the points and the Convert Point Tool to create Bezier curves where needed.

After your path is completed click on the Path Window tab. If the Path window is not opened you’ll find it under the Window menu. Make sure you have the path selected. At the bottom of the path window you will find a dotted circle. In order to load the path as a selection click on it. The path changes into a selection. Under the Select menu select inverse and you are ready to cut the background around the elephant.