Lasso Tool or a better method?

[PhotoShopPhobe]

Hi all,

I am completely new to Photoshop, and with having ADHD, the concentration required to fully understand it, is way beyond me. So I am slowly trying things and learning.

A friend has asked if I can adjust a maternity hospital photo for her (basically to hide her body). I've used the Lasso tool to copy segments of the blanket near her, and copied it on to her, so it looks more like the blanket is fully covering her. However, I am having issues trying to blend it, so it doesn't look like a copy and paste job, and also near the edges, I need to try and smoothen somehow, so that it looks like it's going under her arm. At the moment it is patchy as I can't copy and paste the shape I need to fit, so I am doing small circles.

I don't know the Photoshop lingo, so It's really hard to Google for instructions. I am sure there is probably a much easier way that what I am doing!

Thanks!

 

[PRESTON]

If you put the photo we see what you are talking about
so it's hard to understand what you want.

 

[PhotoShopPhobe]

If you put the photo we see what you are talking about
so it's hard to understand what you want.

It's not something I can share online. I am being trusted to keep it for my eyes only. I can explain as best as I can though

 

[Rich54]

From what you describe, my guess is that you may want to learn about Layer Masks and how to paint with black or white in a layer mask to either hide or reveal your image. It also sounds like the Clone Stamp and Patch Tool may be needed.

Instead of using the Lasso tool to create perfect shapes of the blanket, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, try copying a large portion of the blanket that is deliberately too big and overlaps her body by too much. Then add a layer mask to your new blanket layer and carefully paint with black to hide the portions of the blanket that you don't want. Below, I've attached a video explaining the basics of layer masks.

We can't see your photo, but it may be possible that your particular situation is simply too difficult for a beginner. Blending your new blanket seamlessly into the existing blanket may be easy or it may be hard, depending on the specific photo.

 

[PhotoShopPhobe]

From what you describe, my guess is that you may want to learn about Layer Masks and how to paint with black or white in a layer mask to either hide or reveal your image. It also sounds like the Clone Stamp and Patch Tool may be needed.

Instead of using the Lasso tool to create perfect shapes of the blanket, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, try copying a large portion of the blanket that is deliberately too big and overlaps her body by too much. Then add a layer mask to your new blanket layer and carefully paint with black to hide the portions of the blanket that you don't want. Below, I've attached a video explaining the basics of layer masks.

We can't see your photo, but it may be possible that your particular situation is simply too difficult for a beginner. Blending your new blanket seamlessly into the existing blanket may be easy or it may be hard, depending on the specific photo.

Thanks for this! I will look for some more videos that focus on layer masks and how to do what I need!

 

[PhotoShopPhobe]

From what you describe, my guess is that you may want to learn about Layer Masks and how to paint with black or white in a layer mask to either hide or reveal your image. It also sounds like the Clone Stamp and Patch Tool may be needed.

Instead of using the Lasso tool to create perfect shapes of the blanket, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, try copying a large portion of the blanket that is deliberately too big and overlaps her body by too much. Then add a layer mask to your new blanket layer and carefully paint with black to hide the portions of the blanket that you don't want. Below, I've attached a video explaining the basics of layer masks.

We can't see your photo, but it may be possible that your particular situation is simply too difficult for a beginner. Blending your new blanket seamlessly into the existing blanket may be easy or it may be hard, depending on the specific photo.

Thanks again for this, it does appear to be the way forward! I am slowly working on it now, the hardest bit is getting the brush areas right. As I can't see the original bottom layer when I'm brushing out the top, I can't see where one bit starts and the other bit finishes. It's all looking a bit jagged, and I'm not sure how to make it look "natural". It's all good practise, though!

 

[IamSam]

Hello.

While I completely understand your reason for not posting the image you are working on, is it possible for you to post a similar image that has the same conditions you are currently working with? A similar photo that you can work on and can post with your problems. It will make it so much easier to help you out because you can post screen shots of the areas your trying to work on as well as the layers panel. This way we can see what you're doing.

It sounds like you are trying to replace areas of the image with something new and your having trouble blending edges. Blending is a matter of using the layer mask in combination with the Brush Tool and possibly other tools such as those already mentioned, the Clone Stamp and Patch Tools.

It's all looking a bit jagged, and I'm not sure how to make it look "natural".

I will assume you're using a layer mask. Use the Brush Tool with a soft round brush with lower flow settings to smooth out the edges and blend.

 

[PhotoShopPhobe]

Hello.

While I completely understand your reason for not posting the image you are working on, is it possible for you to post a similar image that has the same conditions you are currently working with? A similar photo that you can work on and can post with your problems. It will make it so much easier to help you out because you can post screen shots of the areas your trying to work on as well as the layers panel. This way we can see what you're doing.

It sounds like you are trying to replace areas of the image with something new and your having trouble blending edges. Blending is a matter of using the layer mask in combination with the Brush Tool and possibly other tools such as those already mentioned, the Clone Stamp and Patch Tools.


I will assume you're using a layer mask. Use the Brush Tool with a soft round brush with lower flow settings to smooth out the edges and blend.

Perfect, thanks very much!

 

[Rich54]

the hardest bit is getting the brush areas right. As I can't see the original bottom layer when I'm brushing out the top, I can't see where one bit starts and the other bit finishes. It's all looking a bit jagged, and I'm not sure how to make it look "natural".

First, do you have a graphics tablet & stylus, or are you attempting to do the brushing with a mouse? Using a mouse is very, very hard to get clean lines.

I know what you mean when you say "I can't see where one bit starts and the other bit finishes". That's where layer masks really help, because if you accidentally stray over the line while masking, all you need to do is toggle between black and white to either mask-in or mask-out the image and correct your mistake. It may take a couple of passes before you get it right. Also, try setting the hardness/softness of your brush to about 50%, which is a good compromise between hard, accurate edges vs. softly feathered edges that make mistakes less noticeable.

Masking is a never-ending learning process. I've been using Photoshop every day for fifteen years and I'm still learning techniques for selecting and masking.

 

[PhotoShopPhobe]

First, do you have a graphics tablet & stylus, or are you attempting to do the brushing with a mouse? Using a mouse is very, very hard to get clean lines.

I know what you mean when you say "I can't see where one bit starts and the other bit finishes". That's where layer masks really help, because if you accidentally stray over the line while masking, all you need to do is toggle between black and white to either mask-in or mask-out the image and correct your mistake. It may take a couple of passes before you get it right. Also, try setting the hardness/softness of your brush to about 50%, which is a good compromise between hard, accurate edges vs. softly feathered edges that make mistakes less noticeable.

Masking is a never-ending learning process. I've been using Photoshop every day for fifteen years and I'm still learning techniques for selecting and masking.

It's all mouse work! Thanks, I am slowly getting there, the shadows are proving quite tricky, but it doesn't need to be pinpoint quality!

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!