Remove Background with Photoshop Pen Tool

Photoshop Pen Tool is the most effective tool for removing photo background. We can create different kinds of paths and shapes by this tool. And we will be able to duplicate and manipulate those paths and shapes later. Although there are other selection tools in Photoshop. But the pen tool will give you a very accurate and sharp selection. Because Photoshop Pen Tool follows the Vector Mathematics to provide you with a sharp selection without blur lines and soft edges. 

Other Photoshop selection tools normally use pixels in your image. If you increase or decrease the size, then the quality of the photo will be damaged. But Pen Tool always creates a vector path that never harms your photo’s quality.

We all need the help of this very important tool. So, today I’m writing about how the Photoshop pen tool works. To understand this process in an easy way, I will show you how to remove the background from an image. 

Let’s do this step by step.

Step-1: Selecting Pen Tool

First of all, Open the image using Adobe Photoshop. I’m using a product image to remove its background. But you can use any photo and remove the background following the same process. Now select Photoshop Pen Tool from the Toolbar. If you are using Adobe Photoshop 2019 CC version, you will see six types of Pen Tool. You can download Adobe Photoshop 2019 CC Version

• The Pen Tool
• Freeform Pen Tool
• Curvature Pen Tool
• Add Anchor Point Tool
• Delete Anchor Point Tool
• Convert Point Tool

The first three of them are for creating paths. But the other three tools used to edit the paths. But now we will use only the Pen Tool. Just click on the tool, or you can use keyboard shortcut P for selecting Pen Tool.

Step-2: Creating Clipping Path

After opening the image in photoshop, you will see a background layer. Now duplicate the background layer and name it as a new layer. The main objective of creating this layer so that the raw image will not be harmed.

Now start creating a path around the image with the Pen Tool. Before that, zoom the image enough to create an exact anchor point. To zoom the image, scroll the mouse holding the Alt key. Start creating a path from any corner of the photo. Before drawing the path with the pen tool, make sure it is a path, not shape. You can change it from the left corner of the top bar.

First, select an anchor point and start drawing. You can also edit the path. With pressing the Alt key, you can break the handles and edit them. Now click and drag the next anchor point and bend it. Continue drawing the whole path until you reach the starting point. Remember that the lesser you create an anchor point, the better.

Step-3: Selecting Path

After creating the whole path, you will find it in the paths tab. Click the path and save it. Now click the path with the mouse’s right button and choose the Selection option to convert the path into a selection. A pop-up window will appear. Give the feather 0.5 in the pop-up window. 

Step-4: Removing the Background

After completing the selection, now press Ctrl+J for creating a new layer of the selected path. A new layer will be created for the path. Now turn off the Background Layer. Now you will see the background of the photo is removed.

Step-5: Changing the Background Color

Below the layer box, you will find a circular fill or adjustment option. Click it and choose any solid color you like. Now you can change the background color into any color from the color box.

Conclusion

Finally, we removed the background with the help of the Photoshop Pen Tool. If you are a beginner, this tutorial will help you to start using Photoshop Pen Tool. It is very easy to use, and anyone can do this with a little bit of practice. But I have to say that creating a path is not that easy. Some object is more complex than this. They need an advanced clipping path.

Though Photoshop Pen Tool makes the process very easy. So, if you find creating a path is boring to you, then you can get help from the professional. There are many Photoshop Services who can do all the hard work for you. The advanced background removing services is very popular nowadays.