How to Create Silhouettes
A silhouette does not have to be black, even though this color is often associated with the common type of design. By definition, a silhouette needs only consist of a solid color and it must represent a form, outline or shape. People are common subjects of a silhouette, but other items such as trees, buildings, animals or landforms can also be portrayed as a silhouette. Creation of an outline image is a common technique used in graphic design and advertising in order to create an eye-catching final product.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Digital photographs
- Software with a pen tool (such as Photoshop, Illustrator or Coreldraw)
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a photograph containing objects or people that might make good subjects for an outline image.
-
2
Open your software program of choice and then open the image file within the graphic design program.
-
-
3
Crop the picture if necessary. You might want to have the main subject, especially if it is a person, take up most of the frame. This can be accomplished by cropping the frame tighter around the object you wish to outline for a silhouette.
-
4
Select the pen tool from your toolbar. In older Photoshop programs you might have to resort to a "magic wand" or lasso, but basically you want to make an enclosed linear outline around the outside edge of the object.
-
5
Choose the "Shape Layers" or other similar vector-based drawing tool, if possible. This may not be possible in older programs, where the image will need to be traced in the pixel image mode.
-
6
Choose your foreground and background colors. You do not have to use black in this situation, though black is a popular color choice for silhouettes and may work perfectly well within your picture.
-
7
Draw the outline with the pen tool, lasso or magic wand. Make sure you make a complete enclosed space with the drawing tool.
-
8
Create a new blank document (with a white background) and place it on the computer workspace next to your other image.
-
9
Drag the traced image to the new document.
-
10
Add color to the silhouette figure.
-
11
Deselect your image and continue to add other objects in the same manner or text if you feel that words are necessary. Background color can changed from white to any shade or hue that you desire.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Once you are able to create a silhouette with one solid-covered object, then it is possible to add several more objects or people to the picture.
If you are having trouble tracing the image to make a silhouette, try changing the opacity setting to a light shade. Once the drawing is complete you can then change it back to dark.
If you are making a silhouette from someone's picture, always ask permission first.
References
- Photo Credit silhouette image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
