Cutting out trees in Photoshop with and without AI

Clipping trees in Photoshop can be a complex task at first glance. However, those who know the right tools and techniques will quickly discover that it is easier than it looks. In this tutorial, I will show you how to clip a tree - both with the help of AI and in a conventional way. Whether you want to remove the background or just replace the sky, I will give you some useful tips to achieve this in a few minutes.

Main Insights

• Removing the background can be quick and efficient.
• Tools like the selection tool and the eraser help with clipping.
• Sometimes it is easier to replace the sky rather than manually clipping the tree.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: First Look at the Image

First, open the image of the tree in Photoshop. You should be aware that you can try different techniques to efficiently remove the background.

Step 2: Remove Background

The first thing you need to do is click on the background and then choose the option "Remove Background." You can find this function in the top bar of Photoshop.

After clicking on the "Remove Background" function, a previous image appears showing you what has been removed and what remains. At this point, you will see the tree alone, but there may still be some unwanted color tones in the image that need to be removed.

Step 3: Select Color Range

To remove the remaining color tones, go to the selection option in Photoshop and choose "Color Range." Now you can select the entire blue area around the tree. Be sure to increase the tolerance in the selection if necessary to achieve better coverage.

Step 4: Apply Layer Mask

Once you have selected the color range, press the "OK" button to confirm the selection.

Then click on the layer mask and make sure the foreground color is set to black. Using the Alt key and the Backspace key, you can now hide the selected areas. You should now see a clipped tree that still needs some fine-tuning.

Step 5: Adjust Effects

Now that the tree is clipped, check if there is a lack or excess of contrast in some areas. You can undo the previous steps if you have not achieved the desired results. Often, a little fine-tuning can work wonders here. Use the familiar tools to further optimize the selection.

Step 6: Add Background

Now comes the exciting part: you can insert a new background - be it a simple gradient or an image background. Make sure everything looks harmonious and the tree fits into its surroundings.

Step 7: Alternative Method - Use the Eraser

Another method is to remove the background using the eraser. You can create a duplicate layer of the image for this purpose. Set the foreground color to the desired green and the tolerance to about 50%. It is important to select the "Protect Background Color" option to maintain the color of the tree.

Step 8: Fine-tuning and applying masks

If you continue working with the eraser tool, you can also create a mask. This way, you can work non-destructively and adjust all changes later. Simply go to the layer mask and apply it to continue working in specific areas.

Step 9: Replace the sky

If you only want to replace the sky, it is much easier than completely cutting out the tree. Go to the "Replace sky" option. Here you can quickly select a new sky, and an optimized selection for your tree will be automatically created.

Summary

In this guide, you have learned how to cut out trees using Photoshop tools, either by removing the background or by replacing the sky. There are several effective ways to do this. Remember to use the tools according to your image requirements.