Adobe Photoshop CS2 Part 4: Creating a Panorama and Masking

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES California State University, Los Angeles www.youtube.com/mycsula

Version 2.0 Summer 2009

Contents
Downloading the Data Files...............................................................................................................2 Using CS Photomerge ........................................................................................................................2 Cropping the Output.......................................................................................................................3 Masking a Tree...................................................................................................................................4 Balancing the Channels..................................................................................................................4 Selecting the Right Channel to Adjust.....................................................................................4 Modifying the Channels...........................................................................................................5 Loading a Channel as a Selection............................................................................................6 Making the Sky White and the Tree Black..............................................................................7 Applying the Mask.........................................................................................................................8 Cropping the Remainder of the Image.....................................................................................9 Adjusting the Edges of the Image................................................................................................10 Showing the Feathered Edges (Glowing)..............................................................................10 Adjusting the Edge Using Curves..........................................................................................11 Combining the Layers and Removing Unnecessary Layers........................................................12 Exporting the Image.........................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard for still image manipulation and editing. It is the premier product used by web designers, photographers, and video professionals. With many powerful tools Photoshop allows users to craft images with only the user imagination as a limitation. Panoramic pictures are images that are wide landscapes. Most cameras are not able to capture such an image by default, so the photographer must capture several images and later paste them together. This handout will explain how to perform this function within Photoshop, first by using the CS Photomerge feature, and later manually putting them together. Also detailed is how to mask a complex object for use in another image.

Downloading the Data Files

The sample data files used in this handout are available for download. To download the data files: 1. Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer. The browser window opens. 2. Type http://www.calstatela.edu/its/training/datafiles/photoshopcs2p4.exe in the Address bar and press the [Enter] key. The File Download dialog box opens (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - File Download Dialog Box Figure 2 - Save As Dialog Box

3. 4. 5. 6.

Click the Save button. The Save As dialog box opens (see Figure 2). Select the appropriate location (e.g., personal flash drive) from the Save in: drop-down list. In the File name: text box, rename the file or leave the default file name. Click the Save button.

Using CS Photomerge
Photomerge is a feature that was introduced in Photoshop Elements and has been carried over into Photoshop CS (or higher). Photomerge takes several images and combines them into a single image. This is useful when capturing a landscape image that is composed of several images, which later have to be placed together.
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To use the Photomerge Feature: 1. Select the File menu Automate Photomerge. The Photomerge dialog box opens (see Figure 3).

Figure 3 - Photomerge Dialog Box

2. Click the Browse button . The Open dialog box opens. 3. Locate and select the data files: panorama_01.jpg, panorama_02.jpg, panorama_03.jpg, and panorama_04.jpg. 4. Click the Open button to close the Open dialog box. 5. Click the OK button to begin the Photomerge process. 6. Use the Select Image Tool on the upper left corner of the Photomerge window to select the image that is to be moved. Clicking on a different image will allow it to be moved. 7. If necessary use the Zoom Tool and the Rotate Image Tool to assist in aligning and coordinating the imported images. Press the [Alt] key while using the Zoom tool to zoom out.
NOTE: This process must be carefully done to ensure that all the images align up properly, otherwise the likelihood for having a seam run across the panorama increases. Separating the photos initially will help in organizing them.

8. Click the OK button. The complete panorama will appear on a new canvas.

CROPPING THE OUTPUT

Since the images are not perfectly aligned prior to being spliced together, the image is not perfectly rectangular and has parts that are not inline with the rest of the image. To correct this, the crop tool will be used. To crop the output: 1. Select the Crop Tool from the Toolbox. 2. Select the area that creates a perfect panoramic image (no extra parts) using the mouse (see Figure 4).
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Figure 4 - Cropping the Photomerge Output

3. Click the Commit current crop operation button the crop.

on the Options toolbar to complete

Masking a Tree
The following sections will detail how to mask complex objects out of an image. In the previous handouts the Pen Tool and Selection Tool were used to select and remove objects from an image. However, this would be difficult for complex objects which have a high level of detail and varied edges (e.g., a tree). This technique will be accomplished by using the various color channels and creating a mask to remove the desired object. The image used in this example is a picture of a tree in front of a sky backdrop and is in the data file tree.jpg.

BALANCING THE CHANNELS

The first step is to balance the channels. This is done in the Channel palette. Different pictures will have different number of channels depending on the type of color set up that it is using. For example, an RGB picture will generally be composed of three color channels one each for Red, Green, and Blue respectively. Each channel shows the amount of that color throughout the image as a grayscale image. This can be seen in the thumbnail preview in the Channel palette or the image when the channel is selected.

Selecting the Right Channel to Adjust

The first step is to select the color from the channel that has the most contrast from the outline of the object of choice. Look at the Channel palette thumbnails and try to choose the one that has the most contrast when comparing the tree to rest of the image. Since the sky is fairly distinct from the tree and has a fair amount of blue tonal area, the Blue channel would be the best choice to start with. Likewise, the bark of the tree is a bit redder than the backdrop so the Red channel will also be used. A single channel can be used to make the adjustment, though using several channels can assist in making the adjustments easier overall. A copy of each channel will be used and the originals will remain intact. To select and copy the channels: 1. Click the Channels tab on Layer palette to open the Channel palette.

NOTE: Take this opportunity to study the contrast between the different channel layers and see how the tree contrasts with the rest of the image before proceeding. It is just as important to know why a layer is being selected.
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2. Drag the Blue channel to the Create new channel button at the bottom of the Channel palette. A new channel will be created (Blue Copy). 3. Double click the name of the Blue Copy channel to open the Channel Options dialog box.

Figure 5 - Renaming the Channel

4. Change the Name: of the Channel to Tree Alpha (see Figure 5). 5. Click the OK button. 6. Drag the Red channel to the Create new channel button at the bottom of the Channel palette. A new channel will be created (Red Copy). The Channel palette should look like Figure 6.

Figure 6 - Channel Palette

NOTE:

- Load channel as selection button. - Apply layer mask button. This will be active in the Layer palette once another layer is market for selection. - Create new channel button. Similar to the Create new layer button; used to create a new channel for modification. - Delete channel button. Permanently removes a channel from an image.

Modifying the Channels

The Red channel will now be adjusted to be used as the selection for modifying the Blue channel. The reason for this is that the bark of the tree is fairly distinct in the Red channel and
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hard to differentiate in the Blue channel layer. A Levels adjustment will be used to help isolate the bark region even further before the channel is used as a selection for the Blue channel. Within the Levels dialog box there are three sliders for Input Levels: (amount of the color that exists within the image), and two sliders for Output Levels: (the amount of the same color that is being exposed after the adjustment has been made). The sliders used to make the adjustments will be the input sliders. The three sliders along the input bar affect (from left to right) the shadow areas, midtone areas, and highlights. Each of the numbers that are listed in the text boxes are for these shading areas. To adjust the levels of the Red copy channel: 1. Click on the Red copy channel to make sure that it is selected. 2. Select the Image menu Adjustments Levels. 3. Adjust the Input Levels: to 50, 0.85, and 222 (see Figure 7).

Figure 7 - Adjusting Levels

4. Click the OK button.

NOTE: The purpose of the adjustment is to make the tree bark distinct from the background. Notice how clearly defined the border is between the tree bark and background after the levels adjustment. This adjustment decreased the input range of Red shades into the channel, making the tree bark more distinct from the hillside.

Loading a Channel as a Selection

After adjustment, the Red copy channel can be used as a selection to assist in modifying the Tree Alpha channel. The selected area within the adjustment channel will also be adjusted in the Tree Alpha channel. The tree bark area will be made darker to easily match the rest of the tree in the Tree Alpha channel. To load a channel as a selection: 1. Drag the Red copy channel to the Load channel as selection button should have a selection on the screen (see Figure 8). . The image

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Figure 8 - Loading a Channel as Selection

2. Select the Tree Alpha channel. 3. Press [Ctrl+H] to hide the selection. The selection remains, however, there are no visual markings. This will make working on the image easier. 4. Darken the bark area by adjusting the levels. Select the Image menu Adjustments Levels. The Levels dialog box opens. 5. Adjust the Input Levels: to 120, 1.2, and 255 (see Figure 9).

Figure 9 - Adjusted Levels

6. Click the OK button.

Making the Sky White and the Tree Black

To ensure that the crop of tree is complete and accurate, the tree and the sky must be completely differentiated from one another within the channel. The sky will be adjusted to complete white and the tree will be made completely black. This will be accomplished by using levels. To adjust the channel: 1. Ensure that the Tree Alpha channel is selected. 2. Press [Ctrl+D], to remove any active selections. 3. Select the Image menu Adjustments Levels. The Levels dialog box opens. 4. Set the Input Levels: to 31, 1.00, and 145 (see Figure 10).
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5. Click the OK button.

Figure 10 - Black and White Image

NOTE: When adjusting the levels make sure not to adjust too far as the sky will appear through the tree or parts of the tree will disappear into the background.

6. Press [Ctrl+I] to invert the channel so that the tree is white and the sky is black.

APPLYING THE MASK

Now that the tree has been completely separated from the sky in a channel, the Tree Alpha channel can now be used to select and remove the tree from the full image. The single layer in the image should be a background layer, which can be only modified on a limited basis. A copy of the background layer will be used for editing, which will not be locked. To apply the layer mask: 1. Drag the Tree Alpha channel to the Load channel as selection button . This will make a selection based on the current content of the channel. 2. Click the Layers tab to select the Layer palette. 3. Drag the Background layer to the Create a new layer button to create a duplicate copy. 4. Double click the Background copy layer to rename it. 5. Give it the name Tree. 6. Delete the original Background layer by dragging it to the Delete layer button . 7. Click the Add layer mask button to mask the layer with the selected tree. See Figure 11 and Figure 12.

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Figure 12 - Masked Tree (Layer Palette)

Figure 11 - Masked Tree (Canvas)

Cropping the Remainder of the Image

Now that the difficult part of the image has been removed (the detailed portion of the tree with all the leaves), the only task that remains is cropping the trunk of the tree from the rest of the image. This can be done using the Pen Tool and painting black over the layer mask. To crop out the rest of the tree: 1. Select the Pen Tool from Toolbox. 2. Make sure to set the Pen Tool is set to Paths mode by setting the clicking the Paths button on the Option toolbar. 3. Select the area that must be removed (the entire hillside area around the tree. Make sure to select around the edge of the image). 4. Right-click and select the Make Selection option. The Make Selection dialog box opens. 5. Press OK to confirm the selection. Ensure that the desired area is properly selected. If not, repeat steps 3 and 4. 6. Make sure that the Tree layer mask is selected (second layer thumbnail in the Layer palette). 7. Select the Edit menu Fill. 8. Set the fill type Use: to Black. 9. Press the OK button. The area around the tree will be masked out, as the layer mask has now been modified to include the area that was just selected (see Figure 13).

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Figure 13 - Cropped Tree

ADJUSTING THE EDGES OF THE IMAGE

With the tree masked out, the final step is to remove the feathering around the edges of the tree, as there will be a white glow around it when pasted into a darker image, making it appear unnatural. A curves adjustment layer will be used to correct the edges. This procedure is an alternative method to adjusting the coloration of an image, similar to using levels, though the use of Curves is a bit more advanced.

Showing the Feathered Edges (Glowing)

To better understand why adjusting the edges is necessary; a gradient background will be placed behind the image to see how it reacts to backgrounds of varying shades and tones. To add a Black/White gradient background to the tree: 1. Select the Select menu Deselect. This will remove any active selections. 2. Click the Create a new layer button on the Layers palette. A new layer Layer 1 will be created. 3. Select the Edit menu Fill. The Fill dialog box opens. 4. Set the fill type Use: to White. 5. Click the OK button.
NOTE: Any option may be used as the Fill will be overlaid with the gradient using layer styles.

6. Double click Layer 1 in the Layers palette. The Layer Style dialog box opens. 7. Click the Gradient Overlay check box to open the Gradient Overlay section in the Layer Style dialog box. 8. Click the Click to edit gradient button . The Gradient Editor dialog box opens. 9. Click the Black, White from the Presets list (see Figure 14).
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Figure 14 - Black, White Gradient

10. Click the OK button to return to the Layer Style dialog box. 11. Click the OK button to confirm the Gradient. 12. Click and drag the Layer 1 layer to the bottom of the layer list to make it the background.

Adjusting the Edge Using Curves

Notice how the parts of the tree that are in front of the black parts of the gradient have a white glow around the edges of the leaves. A Curves adjustment layer will be used to darken the edges to match the rest of the image. This fix will also apply for the bottom part of the image as well, as it will make the edges match the tree bark. To make a curve adjustment: 1. Press and hold the [Ctrl] key and click the Tree mask thumbnail in the Layer palette. 2. Select the Select menu Modify Contract. The Contract Selection dialog box opens. 3. Set the value in the Contract by: X pixels text box to 1. 4. Click the OK button. 5. Press the [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[I] key combination to invert the selection. 6. Select the Tree layer from the Layer palette. 7. Select the Layer menu New Adjustment Layer Curves. The New Layer dialog box opens. 8. Click the OK button. The Curves dialog box opens. 9. Click any point on the curve to activate the Input: and Output: text boxes. 10. Set the Input: to 90. 11. Set the Output: to 20. The curve should appear as in Figure 15. 12. Click the OK button.

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Figure 15 - Adjusting the Curves

NOTE: Curves control the amount of contrast on an image. It does not remove or add contrast to the image, rather is redistributes it across different areas of image (divided based upon light depth). The default curve of any image is a straight line (no-curvature). Input: levels The amount of a given tone within an image. Output: levels By default (straight-line curve), the output of an input is one-to-one. Thus, if the Input: level is 90, the Output: level is 90. Decreasing the output relative to the input level will make the lower the amount of the tonal range. In the example used above, parts of the shadowy area were removed as the Output: level was lowered from 90 to 20. This also makes the mid tone or highlight areas of the image appear more prevalent. Black Area The range at which parts of the image will appear black. The default curve has black set as all the way to the left. Moving this further right will display more of the image as black. White Area The range at which parts of the image will appear completely white. When the point is set at the very top-right corner the minimal portion of the image will display white. Shadow Areas Controls the shadow (darker portions) of the image. Midtone Areas Controls the neutral areas of the image, generally the majority of the image is within this range, and it is usually the area that must be focused on most. Highlight Areas Controls the highlight (brighter portions) of the image.

Combining the Layers and Removing Unnecessary Layers

With the image cropped and the edges adjusted all that is left is combining the layers together. This will attach the curves adjustment to the image; making it a permanent change, rather than being contingent on the layer and the adjustment layer being adjacent to one another. To combine the adjustment layer and the tree layer: 1. Select the Curves 1 layer from the Layers palette. 2. Select the Layer menu Merge Down.
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3. Select all the layers other than the Tree layer and delete them by dragging them to the Delete layer button .

Exporting the Image

After the image is cropped and adjusted, it may be exported into Flash or 3DMax for use in another medium. The file format that will be used is *.png, a common graphic file type used by these programs. To save the file as .png: 1. Select the File menu Save As. The Save As dialog box opens. 2. Set the Format: to PNG (*.png). 3. Change the File name: to tree.png. 4. Click the OK button. The PNG Options dialog box opens. 5. Click the None option button OK button.

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