About Photoshop Magic Eraser Tool

MAGIC ERASER TOOL (SHIFT + E):

This tool works like Magic Wand Tool.

Magic Eraser tool is used to erase color of an area by just one click.

This tool works by taking pixel color as sample on which we click and erases that color.

This tool is basically very useful when we need to erase hard color by just one click.

1.  First open an image. To do this go to File menu and click on open option or simply press
" CTRL + O " and browse image from your hard drives and press ok.

2.  Now select Magic Eraser Tool from Tools Panel or press " SHIFT + E ".

3.  After selecting Magic Eraser tool, you will find some options in options bar.

TOLERANCE: Tolerance value defines the range of color that will be erased.

Low Tolerance value erases colors that are very similar to the pixel color on which we click.

Here first I used 50% Tolerance value and clicked on the first Floral Petal. Then this low
Tolerance value only erased some amount of color in that petal which is very similar to the pixel color on which I clicked.

But I wanted to erase entire Petal with just one click. so we need to use "Higher Tolerance value".

Higher Tolerance value erases colors within a broader range i.e erases pixel color on which we click along with some other relative colors. Here I clicked on Petal top color(orange). But the lower light yellow color is also erased along with top color because of Higher Tolerance value.

ANTI-ALIAS: By default this option is checked. It helps in producing smooth edges while colors are erasing.

CONTIGUOUS: If we check this option, then only the color on which we click will be erased even though there are other similar colors or objects present in the image i.e only the color on which we click will be affected.

Here I checked "CONTIGUOUS" option and clicked on first Petal, then only that Petal on which I clicked was erased

If we uncheck "CONTIGUOUS" option, then the color on which we click will be erased along with all other similar colors or objects in the image.

Here I clicked on first Petal, then that Petal was erased along with all other similar Petals.

OPACITY: Opacity defines the strength of erase.

Lower Opacity value erases the pixel color on which we click to a lower transparency state.

Here I selected 50% Opacity value. Then only a partial transparent state was created.

Higher Opacity value erases the pixel color on which we click completely.

Here I used 100% Opacity value and the color on which I clicked was turned to a complete transparent state i.e completely erased.

SAMPLE ALL LAYERS: If we check this option means Photoshop samples the erased color using combined data form all visible layers.

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About Photoshop Background Eraser Tool

BACKGROUND ERASER TOOL (SHIFT + E):

This tutorial deals with the very interesting tool Background Eraser Tool.

This tool is basically used to erase background of an image easily.

But as the name denotes this tool can not recognize what is background and what is foreground in an image.

This tool basically works and erases areas which comes under the Eraser cross hair or target symbol by taking that areas as samples.

1.  Select Background Eraser Tool from Tools Panel or press "SHIFT + E".

2.  Now Eraser tool looks like in the following image(round shape with a cross hair or target symbol in the middle).

NOTE:  You can increase or decrease size of the Eraser tool. Press " ] " (right bracket) to increase the size or press " [ " (left bracket) to decrease the size.

The target symbol samples the color or area which comes under it and erases only that area or color. Here I want to erase only "Red color" in my image. so I clicked and dragged over the red color without touching the target symbol to the other color.

4.  If target symbol moves to the other color, then Eraser tool samples that color and erases that other color. In my image I moved target symbol to the yellow color and that yellow color has sampled and erased by Eraser tool.

5.  After selecting Eraser tool, you will find some options in options bar.

First we will deal with "Sampling options" in options bar.

There are 3 types of Sampling options Continuous, Once and Sampling Background Swatch.

By default "CONTINUOUS" sampling option is selected. This means Eraser tool continuously samples the color which comes under the target symbol and erases that color like we worked above.

ONCE: If we select "Once" sampling option, then Eraser tool samples the color once which comes under the target symbol and erases that sampled color only even though if we move the Eraser target symbol to the other colors. Here in my image I selected "Once" sampling option and clicked on "Red color" and Eraser tool sampled red color which is present under target symbol and erased only red color, even though the target symbol moved to the "Yellow color"
(with still mouse button holding).

NOTE:  Do not release mouse left button while moving target symbol to other colors while working with ONCE option. If you release mouse button and clicked on other color, then Eraser picks that other color and erases that color only.

SAMPLING BACKGROUND SWATCH: If you unable to erase very small area's color or If the target symbol doesn't fit into small areas, then use "Sampling Background Swatch" option.

First select Sampling background swatch option in options bar and click on set background tool in Tools Panel. Then a color picker window will be appeared. Now select a color which is almost similar to color which you want to erase. Now click or click and drag over the small areas to erase those areas.

Now we will deal with "LIMITS OPTION". This option contains 3 more options: Contiguous, Discontiguous and Find edges.

CONTIGUOUS: By default this option is selected. This option selected means only the area which is present under target symbol is sampled and that area only will be erased even though the Eraser circle present on the other same color.

Here I took a Flower image and by default "Contiguous" options is selected and I clicked on a small white area between two Leaflets. Then only the "white" color which is present under the target symbol was removed and the other same color which is present under the Eraser circle remained as it is.

DISCONTIGUOUS: If we select Discontiguous option, then the color or area which is present under the target symbol will be erased along with the other same color or area which is present under the Eraser circle.

Here I clicked on the "white color" between two Leaflets. Then the white color which is present under target symbol was erased along with other "white area or color" which is present under the Eraser circle.

FIND EDGES: This option helps in protecting the object from becoming "Semi transparent". Generally if you click on the background color without selecting "Find Edges option", then you may notice that the object becoming "semi transparent". So to prevent the object from becoming semi transparent, select "Find Edges option".

Here I selected Discontiguous option and clicked above the Flower as shown in the image. Then the background was erased and the Flower has become "semi transparent".

Then I selected "Find Edges" option and clicked on the above the Flower. Then the background was erased and the Flower was protected from becoming "semi transparent".

TOLERANCE: By default Tolerance value is set to 50%. This value always gives better results.

If the background color is very similar to the Subject, then use low Tolerance value.

If background color and the subject colors are contrasting or differing more, then use higher Tolerance value.

Here in my case I selected default Tolerance value 50%. Then Eraser tool removed background along with some part of Mountains.

Actually in my image background color(sky) is very similar to Mountains color(subject). Hence I used low Tolerance value(15%) and again clicked on the background. Now only the background was erased leaving Mountains untouched.

PROTECT FOREGROUND COLOR: As the name denotes this options helps in protecting Foreground color from being erased. If you do not want to work with Tolerance value, then use "Protect Foreground Color option".

To do this open an image. Then select Eyedropper tool from Tools Panel or simply hold down  "ALT " key in keyboard and when cursor turns to a dropper symbol, click on the color which you want to protect from being erased. This color will be set as a Foreground color.

Here I want to protect the Flower color and I clicked on the Flower color with Eyedropper tool.

Now this color was set as Foreground color. Then I clicked and dragged over the background. Only the background was erased and Flower was protected form being erased with Eraser tool.

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About Photoshop Zoom and Hand Tools

ZOOM (Z) AND HAND (H) TOOLS :
 
In this tutorial we are going to learn about Zoom and Hand Tools together. Because we can work with Hand tool only in Zoom mode.

Sometimes we will have to observe some objects very closely to have a look at specific areas to know clearly what is there.Like, if you are working with little facial blemishes, then you will need to observe the range of blemishes. so to observe blemishes clearly you should work with zoom mode.

Hence to observe any error or anything in an image in a pixel wise view we need to work with Zoom in mode.

At the end of this tutorial you will be completed with Zoom in and Zoom out modes, working with Hand tool and some Keyboard shortcuts.

1.  First open any image. Here I took a Flower. Now I want to select the flower. To do this choose any selection tool and draw an outline around the flower. Here I have chosen pen tool for selection.

But we are not able to select flower edges properly in Normal mode.

2.  To select edges of the flower properly with pixel wise we need to work with Zoom in mode. To do this select Zoom tool from tools panel or you can use keyboard short cuts to work with Zoom tool which will be explained at the end of tutorial.

NOTE:  After selecting Zoom tool, you will find " + " and " - " symbols in options bar. " + " is for zoom in and " - " is for zoom out.

3.  After selecting Zoom tool a " + " symbol cursor appears. Then click(click multiple times to zoom the image more) on image to Zoom in. Now you can see the image in a pixels wise view clearly. Then select the edges of image properly with any selection tool.

HAND TOOL:

4.  While working with Zoom in mode, we will have to move or adjust the image for selecting the image properly. Hence to move the image around the work space we need to use Hand tool.

To do this select Hand tool form Tools Panel or hold down SPACEBAR and when cursor turns to a hand symbol click on the image and drag the image according to your need and select the image properly.

5.  Here I have selected Flower properly by working with Zoom in mode and by adjusting the image with Hand tool.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS:

Press letter " Z " in keyboard. Then cursor turns to " + " symbol. Now click on the image to Zoom in. Hold down " ALT " key and when cursor turns to " - " symbol, click mouse left button on the image to Zoom out.

Hold down "CTRL + SPACEBAR" and click on the image to Zoom in. Hold down " ALT + SPACEBAR " and click on the image to Zoom out.
 
Press "CTRL + +" in keyboard to Zoom in. Press "CTRL + - " in keyboard to Zoom out.

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About Photoshop Eraser Tool

ERASER TOOL (E):

This tutorial deals with the Eraser tool in photoshop.

As the name denotes this tool works much like a real eraser that works on a paper.

1.  First open an image. To do this go to File menu and click on open option or simply press
"CTRL + O" and browse image from your hard drives and press ok. Here I took a Flower.

2.  Now select Eraser tool from Tools Panel or simply press "E" in keyboard.

3.  After selecting Eraser tool, you will find some options in options bar.

MODE: This option contains Brush, Pencil and Block modes. If we select Brush mode, then the Eraser tool works like a painting brush.

If we select Pencil mode, then the Eraser tool works like a writing pencil.

If we select Block mode, then the Eraser tool attains a block shape and erases the image according to block shape.

OPACITY: If we increase opacity value, then the area on which we click will be removed more transparently. If we decrease opacity value, then the area on which we click will be removed less transparently.

FLOW: If we increase Flow, then the rate of color on which we click will be erased greatly.
If we decrease Flow, then the rate of color on which we click will be erased in low quantity.

4.  Click on " BRUSH PRESET PICKER " as shown in the image. Then you will find "Brush size" or "master diameter" and "Hardness". We can decrease or increase brush size by dragging slider left or right. You can also increase brush size by pressing " ] " (Right bracket) or you can decrease size by pressing " [ " (Left bracket) while working.

If we set 100% Hardness, then the brush removes the area on which we click like a stiff brush.

If we decrease Hardness, then the brush removes the area on which we click like a loose or soft brush.

5.  If the background layer is locked and if we click or click and dragged on the image, then the background color will be applied on the erased area.

6.  If the background layer is unlocked, then the erased area will be transparent (background color will not be applied).

7.  Another important and interesting option in options bar is "Erase to History". Checking this option allows us to restore the original action i.e the erased area will be restored with the original state. Here I restored the erased Flower back. Follow the image.

8.  Now get back to our real erasing work that is erasing the white background to extract the flower from the background. Click or click and drag around the flower or object to erase the area. Follow the image.

9.  Now hold down " CTRL + SPACERBAR " and click on the image to zoom in. This zoom in mode helps us to erase the edges of the area pixels wise. Hold down "SPACEBAR" and when cursor turns to a "HAND" symbol click on the image to move the object around the work space.

10.  Now adjust brush size according to curve nature of the flower and click or click and drag around the flower edges to erase the area pixels wise by adjusting the image.

11.  Hold down " ALT + SPACEBAR " and click on the image to zoom out the image. Now look at the final image, we have successfully erased the background with Eraser tool.

12.  This flower is now ready to move into a new document or image.

Select Move tool from Tools Panel or simply press "V" in keyboard. Then click mouse left button on the Flower and drag the image or flower into a new image or document.

This image may not fit into the new document properly. so, press "CTRL + T". Then a boundary box will appear. Now put cursor at any handle (small square box) and click and hold mouse left button and drag inward to decrease the flower size or drag outward to increase the size and put the Flower in an appropriate place like in the following image.

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About Photoshop Horizontal And vertical Type Mask Tools

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL TYPE MASK TOOLS ( SHIFT + T ):

In this tutorial we will learn about remaining Text Tools Horizontal and vertical type mask tools.

Both these tools are used to mask the background or any image with text as a selection and to fill that text selection with the background. In other words they create a quick mask using the text as a selection.

Both  tools work in similar manner but Horizontal type mask tool creates horizontal text selection and vertical type mask tool creates vertical text selection.

Working with Horizontal Type Mask Tool:

1.  First open an image. To do this go to File menu and click on open option or simply press "CTRL + O" and browse image form your hard drives and click on ok.

2.  Now select Horizontal Type Mask Tool from Tools Panel or press "SHIFT + T".

3.  Now click on the image which you want to mask with text. Then a red color covers the entire image as a mask with blinking cursor. Now type text of your choice. Follow the image.

NOTE:  You can change the text style and size in options bar.

4.  Now press "CTRL + ENTER" or click on " RIGHT " symbol in options bar. Then a text selection outline appears as shown in the image which indicates that this text selection outline is ready to be filled with background or ready to cut or ready for copying etc.

5.  We have to unlock the background layer first to proceed further. To do this double click on the background layer in Layer palette. Follow the image.

6.  Now go to " SELECT " menu and click on " Inverse " option.

7.  You can also select Inverse option by pressing "SHIFT + CTRL + I" in keyboard to select entire image except the text selection.

8.  Now press " DELETE " key in keyboard to remove entire background except the text selected area. Then press "CTRL + D" to deselect the text outline. Now look at the result.

Other way to create same effect using Layer Mask:

9.  First select Vertical Type Mask Tool and repeat all above steps until step 4 i.e until Text selection outline appears. After the appearance of selection outline click on " ADD LAYER MASK " icon in Layer Palette. Follow the image.

10.  This Layer mask covers the entire background except the text selection. Now look at the final outcome.

11.  The main advantage of adding Layer mask is that we can move the text freely anywhere in the document with applying the background effect to the text where it is moved. To do this click on " Chain Link " in Layer Palette to unlink background layer and Layer mask. follow the image.

12.  Then select " MOVE " tool from Tools Panel or simply press " V " in keyboard. Now click and hold mouse left button on the text and move or drag freely anywhere in the work space to apply that point of back ground effect to the moving text. Here I moved my text upward.

Working with Vertical Type Mask Tool:

13.  Same effect can be achieved by using Vertical Type Mask Tool but the text appears in a vertical manner. Follow the image.

CONCLUSION: Both these tools are very useful when a person wants to apply his favorite background color or effect to the text.

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