Photoshop version CS6

[Donald R25934800wptv]

Need steps to cut out complex background from image, then duplicate result onto another image

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Do you have an example you can post?

There are multiple ways to acheieve and without knowing specifics its hard to give direction.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/compositing.html

[Lumigraphics]

If you are asking for steps its probably not going to happen. Removing a complex background is difficult for even experienced users.

One thing to note is that Adobe has added a lot of features in Photoshop CC to select complex subjects. This will probably be MUCH easier with an up-to-date version rather than the obsolete CS6.

[chrisg11235813]

Back in the days before this was an automatic feature, I would have tried looking in the chanels pallet,  sometimes the bacgrouund is better defined in a single chanel.

Also, you might be able to use an adjustment layer to "bump up" the contrast between subject and background.  Use this to help "Automagically" select the background and clip it out.

I think CS6 has the magic-wand tool (?)

[Donald R25934800wptv]

Continuing my search for steps to cut out background in CS6, I found 13 steps on the web including the following step,"On the Horizontal Toolbar Select ADD TO SELECTION, change your sample size to POINT SAMPLE, change your tolerance to 32, and CHECK anti-alias, contiguous, and sample all layers."  Can anyone tell me how to display the Horizontal toolbar?

[kevin stohlmeyer]

That is the options bar at the top of your workspace. When you are on the magic wand tool there are options to add to/subtract from select and a tolerance value field.

[jane-e]

@Donald R25934800wptv 

They are talking about the options bar for the Magic Wand tool. Those steps are unlikely to help you.

To select a complex background and use it in another document:

• Draw a path with the Pen tool set to Path mode. Edit the path and Save it.
• Convert the Path to a selection with Ctrl+Enter
• Apply a Mask to the Layer. If necessary, adjust the Mask with the brush tool using the default colors of black and white.
• Arrange both images on your screen.
• Shift+Drag the layer from the one document to the other.

If you don't know how to draw paths or work on masks or even have basic Photoshop skills, LinkedIn Learning has some great Photoshop tutorials. 

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/

If you get stuck, ask here.

Jane