How to Make a Object Stand Out From the Background in Photoshop

There are quite a few ways to make an object stand out against the background, depending on what you are looking for in the final project. Whether you want the effect to be subtle, dramatic, natural, etc., the application will vary. You can alter the appearance of either the background or the object, or you can add a layer style effect that alters neither the background nor object, but rather adds an element that emphasizes the presence of the object. Try two, or three methods and choose from the method that best suits your needs.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop

Instructions

Alter the Object

1. Select the object that will be highlighted against the background. You must select the object perfectly, or it will look choppy and unrealistic. Select the "Magnetic Lasso Tool," quick key "L" on the tool palette on the side of the screen (looks like a triangle with a horseshoe magnet on it). If it is not there (third down from the top), right click the tool that is shown (either the Lasso tool or Polygonal Lasso tool) and select "Magnetic Lasso" from the drop-down menu.

2. Trace the lines around the object with the lasso, you will need to trace all the way around it (in every crack and line) while holding down a single click. You must return the lasso all the way back to the beginning of the trace to close the selection area. This takes practice, but if there are parts in or outside the selected area that escaped the trace, it can be fixed with the quick mask.

3. Click on the quick mask tool on the bottom of the left-hand tool bar (looks like a rectangle with a circle inside). The image outside your selected (traced) area will turn transparent red. Use the paintbrush tool to delete parts of the trace that you don't want to include (such as a small part of the background that you accidentally traced) and use the eraser tool to add parts that were missed.

4. Exit the "Quick Mask" by clicking on the button again. The object will remain selected, though now with the edits you made in the quick mask.

5. Adjust the levels of the selected object. To make the object stand out from the background, access "Levels" or "Brightness/Contrast" applications to increase vividness. For levels, click Image->Adjustments->Levels. A graph will appear, slowly move the slider on the right side toward the left. This increases the white balance and brightens the image. Clicking Image->Adjustments->Brightness/Contrast and adjusting the brightness slider will also enhance the selected object. Click OK when finished.

Alter the Background

1. Follow steps 1 through 4 in the section above. While the object is still selected, click Edit->Copy, followed by Edit->Paste. The object is now floating on the page as a separate layer. Do not move the layer.

2. Click on the original background layer on the layers window (Window->Layers) to adjust the background levels. Make sure the background layer is selected, or you will adjust the levels of the object layer.

3. Continue by following the procedure in step 5 above. However, instead of increasing the brightness, push the slider in the opposite direction to darken the background, thus illuminating the object.

Add a Layer Style

1. Follow step 1 in the section above (steps 1 through 4 in section 1, followed by step 1 in section 2).

2. Click on the "Add Layer Style" button on the bottom of the layers window (looks like fx). From the drop-down menu, select "Outer Glow."

3. Adjust the properties on the style window box that appears on the screen. Adjust the size and spread of the glow. Set to your preference using the sliders in the "Elements" box. To change the color of the glow, click the small color square in "Structure" box and select. Press OK. A gentle glow will appear around the object.

References

• Photoshop Support