How To 'Cut Out' or 'Render' An Object In A Photoshop

This quick tutorial will demonstrate one way to render or cut out an object from an image using the Pen tool.

Start by opening your image in Photoshop. and then select the Pen tool from the toolbox.

Make sure your tool settings at the top of the screen are the same as shown here.



Pick any starting point on the image, in this case i will start at the bottom of the flower. What we are going to do here is basically click the pen tool around the outline of the flower to put down Anchor Points. Make sure you are zoomed in well enough to the image to be able to do this with ease. To start with you want to add as many points as possible to ensure a smooth render especially around smooth corners. Work your way around the image at your own speed and i found a handy keyboard shortcut whilst working with this technique is the combination of Alt+Ctrl+Z which will undo your Anchor points one by one. Depending on your image size this process could take a long time but remember that it's the fine detail that really make the image.




When you come to connect your last Anchor point with your first you will notice that a little circle will appear on the nib of the pen, this is to let you know your are about to complete the render. Join up your points and then right click anywhere inside your image and select the option Make Selection. A pop up box will appear asking how much to feather the selection you are about to make, choose this to taste.




Now the 'Marching Ants' should appear to confirm you have made your selection so the next step is to go to Edit/Copy and then File/New.



Make sure you select Transparent as the background to your new layer as this will allow us to put objects or a background of your choice behind your render.




Now simply paste your render onto your new blank transparent layer and there you have it all ready for more editing.