Make background transparent

[Beardy]

Hi there

I'd really like to select an item from a photograph and knock out the rest of the image. When I do so the knocked out part is still white. I need it to be transparent or nothing ... ie not still part of the picture.

Am only a beginner so am a bit stuck. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Beardy

[MeTurk]

Ah for gods sake! did ye not read the manual.

Promote background to layer. Go to layer > New > then you'll see it yourself.

now write that out 100 times and have your nother sign it before you come back tomorrow.:D

[Lesa]

When knocking out bits of a photo, I use a layer mask in case I need to adjust the edges of what I've knocked out. Once you make a selection around the element you want to keep, click on the circle within a square icon at the bottom of your layers palette. This hides everything except for your selection.

This is very handy because you can now edit the mask any time you like, or discard the mask altogether if you change your mind. To edit the mask, select it in the layers palette, then choose a Brush and paint with black on the image in order to hide more bits, and paint with white in order to make bits visible.

Let us know how it goes!

[Beardy]

Hi there Lesa

Thanks. You're a star.

I've just been spending a few hours sitting in the corner with a dunce's hat on doing the lines MeTurk ordered.

[MeTurk]

Dam man I was only joking you didn't really have to do the lines:D

[Little-erik]

Planet Photoshop drama. isnt that the sweetest thing :D