Photoshop 2020 Selection Secrets

Mastering selections and cutouts in Photoshop

MASTER SELECTIONS AND MASKS IN PHOTOSHOP 2020

If you have ever struggled with selections in Photoshop (we all have), this is the tutorial you have been searching for. These 18 lessons get straight to the point and teach you exactly what you need to know. All photos aren’t the same, and neither should be the way you select them.

Out of all the tasks in Photoshop. The #1 place where people struggle is with selections. Even simple cutout tasks can be challenging, hair has pieces missing, the edges are not clean, and it feels like you are spending too much time trying to cut things out. And the pen tool? How is it supposed to work again?

We get it! This can be very frustrating. Everyone hates wasting time with tools that don’t seem to work. Maybe you saw a tutorial, but it didn’t work on the photo you were using, or worse, it looked ok on a tiny screen, but didn’t hold up on close examination (AKA The real-world).

For 20 years, working with demanding clients from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, Colin Smith (Winner of 3 Guru awards + author of 20 books) has dealt with almost every selection challenge you can imagine. The trick is having multiple techniques in your “Photoshop toolbelt” and using the best tool for each job. Not just using the tools correctly, but also knowing the trade secrets. You know, the hidden modifiers and tips that make the tools work the way they should and how to combine the techniques for rapid cutouts.

Colin has figured out which tools work the best and which are a waste of time. (Hint, forget the magnetic lasso tool and background eraser). In a friendly, conversational manner, you will learn battle-tested selection and masking techniques, the same ones used by today’s top pros.

Learn how to tackle trees, hair, complex shapes and even transparency with confidence. Colin shows “brute force” techniques that will enable you to cut out anything, even with very busy and muddled backgrounds. Lots of insider tips and tricks are sprinkled throughout to make some tasks surprisingly easy and quick.

If you combine the techniques demonstrated in this almost 4 hour master class on selections, you will never have to fear a selection task again. This is suitable for beginners through advanced users. All the lesson files are included, so you can follow along step by step. This isn’t anything like sitting in a classroom, listening to a lecture, It’s more like sitting next to Colin in his studio and working with him.

THIS 3.5 HOUR TRAINING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LESSONS:

LESSON: 1: USING MARQUEE TOOLS
Making basic shaped selections using the marquee tools.

LESSON: 2: MAGIC WAND
Select large areas or similar areas quickly with magic wand.

LESSON: 3: OBJECT SELECTION
Use the amazing Object Selection tool to instantly make selections.

LESSON: 4: SAVING SELECTIONS
Managing, saving and reusing selections.

LESSON: 5: LAYER MASKS
How to use Layer Masks, masking tips.

LESSON: 6: FIXING EDGES
Smoothen jaggy edges and re­move fringes and halos.

LESSON: 7: SELECTIVE EDGE CLEANUP
Advanced edge cleanup

LESSON: 8: BASIC CUTOUT
Cut out a person and learn the Select and Mask tool.

LESSON: 9: CUTOUT PERSON BUSY BACKGROUND
Cut out a person on a more difficult background.

LESSON: 10: CUTOUT HAIR
How to tackle cutting out hair and getting perfect edges.

LESSON: 11: PEN TOOL BASICS
How to use the Pen tool.

LESSON: 12: PEN TOOL CUTOUT
Use the Pen tool to cut out any­thing with super clean edges.

LESSON: 13: USING FOCUS TO SELECT
Use depth of field and blur to make a selection

LESSON: 14: THE CHANNEL PULL
Use Channels to make selections easily

LESSON: 15: ADVANCED BLENDING/BLEND IF
Remove a background without the need to even make a selection

LESSON: 16: CUT OUT TREES – EASY WAY
How to cut out busy shapes and fine details like trees.

LESSON: 17: CUT OUT TRANSPARENCY
How to cut out transparency, like glass and liquid.

LESSON: 18: CLUTTERED BACKGROUNDS
Cutting out people against difficult backgrounds.

LESSON: 19

MAKING COMPLEX SELECTIONS

Extract the background from a very complex image.

This tutorial is easy enough to follow for a beginner, but contains enough information and tips that an advanced user will find it beneficial.


Your Instructor


Colin Smith
Colin Smith

Colin Smith is a best-selling author, and award-winning digital artist who has caused a stir in the community with his stunning Photoshop work. Colin is known as a pioneer of HDR photography and aerial drone photography. Colin is founder of one of the world's most popular Photoshop resource sites, PhotoshopCAFE.com, which boasts over 30 million visitors. He has been nominated 2x for the Photoshop Hall of Fame.

With over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, Colin was formerly Senior Editor and Creative Director for VOICE magazine. As a commercial artist, his clients include Satcchi & Satcchi, Proctor & Gamble, Toyo Tires, Microsoft and several Hollywood entertainment companies.

He is a regular columnist for Photoshop User magazine. He has been featured in most major imaging magazines including, Computer Arts, Macworld, Advanced Photoshop, Photoshop User, After Capture, PSD Photoshop, Photoshop Creative, Digital Photographer, Web Designer magazine and a host of others.

Colin's digital imaging work has been recognized with numerous awards, including, MacWorld Digital Design and 3 Guru awards at Photoshop World 2001 and 2002. He's authored more than nineteen books on Photoshop, including the best-selling How to Do Everything with Photoshop (McGraw-Hill/Osborne) and award-winning Photoshop Most Wanted, as well as being pominentely featured in the Hall Of Fame book, New Masters Of Photoshop and New Masters of Photoshop 2 (The only artist featured in both editions).

Colin is also creator of the PhotoshopCAFE series of videos (PhotoshopCAFE.com/video). He is in high demand across the United States as a lecturer, presenting his Photoshop techniques to Photographers and graphics professionals across the nation. He has been a speaker at such conferences as Adobe MAX, Photoshop World, WPPI, Imaging USA, PPE, creativeLIVE Photoshop week, Flash Forward, NVision, , PIDE, DL Expo, Creative Suite Conference, Cre8, Create Chaos, Deviant Art Summit and many more. In 2012 and 2013 Colin was the featured speaker and producer of 2 Multi-City Tours (Route CS6 and Destination CC) Sponsored by Adobe. Colin has consulted such companies as Adobe Systems, Edison International, Apple and Disney Studios.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!