Tutorial: AKVIS SmartMask

Cut out a human figure from a photo

This example has been created in Adobe Photoshop, but you can use any other photo editor compatible with AKVIS SmartMask.

Watch a flash movie demonstrating the technique: Click here (flash-movie, 6,8 Mb)

We tried to show as many tools as possible to make you familiar with the program. In most cases you won't need all these tools and modes.

An original image
Different background images. Click to open in a larger window.

• Step 1. Open an image in your photo editor.
  
• Step 2. Copy the image to a new layer (Duplicate Layer).
  
• Step 3. Call AKVIS SmartMask plugin. For this purpose select the command Filters -> AKVIS -> SmartMask.
  

  By default the plugin uses the Sharp mode.

• Step 4. Use the blue pencil to draw an outline within the girl's figure.
  

  Use the red pencil to outline the background.

  
• Step 5. Press the button to start processing the image.
  
  The image will be processed with the default settings. The program will take into consideration the drawn outlines and generate three zone types: the red area will be deleted (the points in this area have Transparency = 100%), the areas that will be kept are marked blue - (the points in his area have Transparency = 0%). Red and blue areas will have a green transition border. The points in the green border have different Transparency values (between 0 and 100%), which accounts for the smooth edges of the selected (cutout) object.
  
• Step 6. Let's see the result on a transparent background (turn off the drawn strokes). The preliminary result is rather good. For most objects with clearly defined borders this technique will suffice.
  On our image, the clothes have been cut out very well, but the hair is not perfectly isolated. We continue our work.
  
• Step 7. Press the button Show overlay.
  

  Switch to the Soft mode.

  
• Step 8. Choose the green pencil and increase the value of the Brush Size parameter.
  
• Step 9. Paint over the difficult areas (the hair) with the green pencil.
  
• Step 10. Press the button to start the image processing in the Soft mode.
  

  The result is much better indeed. Now we have to remove the stains on the background.

• Step 11. Switch to the Complex mode.
  
• Step 12. Use the Zoom tool to scale up the image and work with the problem areas.
  
• Step 13. Switch to the mode that shows the image in its original state.
  
• Step 14. Choose a color in the Keep colors and Drop colors lists using the corresponding tools.
  
• Step 15. Choose the Magic Brush tool in the Toolbar.
  

  The Calculate check-box is enabled.

  

  Using the Magic Brush tool draw over girl's hair.

  

  Here is the result:

  
• Step 16. Let's improve the result further.

  Increase the value of the Sensitivity parameter of the brush

  

  and draw over the hair.

  
• Step 17. Now enable the Foreground Recovery check-box and choose the umber color.
  

  Use the Magic brush again.

  At last the hair look naturally enough!

  
• Step 18. Press the button to apply the result.

  Now you can add any background and your new photo is ready.