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A
Anonymous
June 20, 2020
Answered

making an image transparent in photoshop cc but keeping the lines for definition.

  • June 20, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 424 views

i dont know if this is a long shot but thought Id ask in case there is something there available in photoshop.

In photoshop, I know that you can make text transparent and create an outline to the text. I want to do the same to any image.

 

The first photo is the original as an example. I dont want the grey area just the lines showing so that when I put the hand onto an image you can only see the definition of the hand on the outside and the inside. 

 

The second picture shows the outline of the hand but nothing inside the hand which I did not want.

 

 

in the last picture below, this is what I was looking for, and this I did using the background eraser tool but I am wondering if there was an easier way as it is taking me so long to do each hand individually. I wanted the inside of the hand to be empty but keep the lines to give it definition. Also I'd like to be able to change the colours of the lines but I dont know if thats possible? I dont know the best way to explain but I hope you get what im trying to get at.

 

 Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer davescm

Try this

Make sure your Libraries panel is open (Window >Libraries)

Click on the plus sign at the bottom and choose "Create from Image"

 

Choose the shapes tab and adjust detail and check Smooth on Save

You now have, in your library, a smoothed vector version of the hand that you drag back into Photoshop

If you want to colour it - right click and choose Blending Options and add a color overlay

 

Dave

2 replies

davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 20, 2020

An alternative method, that does not do the smoothing and keeps the lines as ratserized pixels, is to use Blend If

So right click the image layer and choose Blending options

Move the white triangle to th left (holding Alt will split it for a smoother transition)

 

Dave

 

A
Anonymous
June 20, 2020

thank you youre a timesaver! 

I followed the first instructions and while in the library it showed up like you mentioned but with a black background, dont know why. However, in the detail section of the shape tab I had to slide it all the way to 1 and I got the white background then. I got what i was looking for!

The alternative method didnt do anything for me.

 

Thank you.

 

 

davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 20, 2020

Try this

Make sure your Libraries panel is open (Window >Libraries)

Click on the plus sign at the bottom and choose "Create from Image"

 

Choose the shapes tab and adjust detail and check Smooth on Save

You now have, in your library, a smoothed vector version of the hand that you drag back into Photoshop

If you want to colour it - right click and choose Blending Options and add a color overlay

 

Dave

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