creating silhouettes

[kikinova123]

Hello,

how to make silhouettes of objects? I need to make silhouettes of all objects. Only the background will remain white. 

Thank you

[Jacob Bugge]

defaultw,

Always keep a backup of (versions of) your artwork, especially up to irreversible changes.

Depending on the exact nature of the artwork, you may be able to obtain the desired appearance with the help of a set of two background ractangles, a black one on top of a white one.

If the outer bounds of your artwork parts consist or can be changed to consist of filled paths, you can turn those filled paths into a Compound Path and apply that to the black rectangle, thereby making those parts (of the black rectangle) appear as silhouettes on top of the white rectangle.

In many cases, whether vector artwork and/or raster images/effect, you may have one or more (quite different) options to turn them black or white (in appearance), and use them as a Group for a(n Opacity) Mask along with the black rectangle with Clip ticked and Invert Mask ticked or unticked.

With either approach, those parts (of the black rectangle) will appear as silhouettes on top of the white rectangle.

You can get a first impression of the former here,

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/clipping-masks.html

You can get a first impression of the latter here,

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/transparency-blending-modes.html

[kikinova123]

Thank you

Can you send me detailed instructions on how to change raster images to black? Every time I change the color of the shape, the entire rectangle (in which the shape is placed) is changed, not just the shape.

EVA

[Jacob Bugge]

Eva,

As soon as possible I will elaborate.

You may (also) ask in the Photoshop forum,

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/ct-p/ct-photoshop?page=1&sort=latest_replies&filt...

[Jacob Bugge]

Eva,

As a further preliminary suggestion, in addition to working in Photoshop, you may try to use Image Trace to establish a vector path following the outer boundary of each artwork part and use that as part of the compound clipping path, or fill it and use it as part of the Opacity Mask Group.

[Jacob Bugge]

To elaborate on the Image Trace suggestion, see the link below, for each image you can:

1) Trace in "Black And White" which "Simplifies the image to black-and-white artwork" and is the default, and use "FILLS";

2) Expand the Image Trace; if for some strabge reason you have artwork with one or more holes in it, then Object>Compound Path>Release;

3) With the resulting Group selected apply Pathfinder>Unite, then change the colour to black unless already.

This ought to give you a black path working as the silhouette.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/image-trace.html

[Monika Gause]

You could make a layers mask like this. https://youtu.be/eWw-z_ydxlc

If you cannot find a suitable channel, choose the best you have, duplicate it and increase the contrast using Levels or curves. In order to turn a channel into a selection, cmd click it (ctrl click on Windows)

[Monika Gause]

Here's how to make a clipping mask in Photoshop. Using the object selection tool. You can also use the magic wand or what ever is appropriate. WHen you have the selection the video show how to make a clipping path, but you can also use it to make a layer mask https://youtu.be/nW9RjbUwhQk

[kikinova123]

Good day Monika,

I have Adobe Illustrator and when I use lasso, nothing happens. Points are not collected.

Thank you

[Monika Gause]

So you don't have Photoshop? You need to do this in Illustrator?

Please share a sample image.

[kikinova123]

No, I haven´t photoshop, only illustrator 🙂

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

I've made a video showing 2 options. It's currently uploading. I'm on the train, so could possibly take a couple minutes more. Please read the video's description.

https://youtu.be/m_dKmhS_z8Q

[kikinova123]

Good day, thank you soooo much is it correct  :))

[Monika Gause]

Glad you could solve it!