For this tutorial we will learn the very fun technique of selecting specific images out of a picture and placing them against a new background.

Let’s start with our source image, our beloved friend Jason Brown. Go ahead and drag this image to your desktop, if you haven’t already done so.

We’ll be focusing on two basic tools for this job, the lasso selection tool and the quick mask tool.

The Lasso tool allows us to select a any shape we want in an image. It comes in three flavors – the Lasso tool, the geometric lasso tool and the magnetic lasso tool.

The basic Lasso tool is used to select an area free hand by dragging with the mouse. Click on the image and (while holding down the mouse key) drag the mouse to select a particular area freely. You have to meet the starting and ending point to close the selection. The selection is visible in the form of dotted lines. Once this area is selected you can cut, paste, or modify this area however you like. However, with great freedom, comes great responsibility to not have a shaky hand. Unless you have zen master mouse control, you may find it difficult to get the lasso tool to give you exactly the selection that you want.

The Magnetic Lasso tool works like the Lasso tool except it attempts to determine the edges of the object on it’s own. Magic! It’s best for forms that are both complicated and against a high contrast background. Some people really love the Magnetic Lasso tool, and we recommend you spend some time with it and see if you like how it works.

The Polygon Lasso tool is the most useful (in our opinion) tool for your day to day selection tasks. To draw a straight edged selection, click on the starting point and click again on the end point .To draw a free hand segment, hold down Alt and drag. Like the Lasso tool, you have to close the starting and ending point of the selection.

Ok, so to proceed, use the Polygon Lasso tool to select around Jason. Be as accurate as you can, but don’t freak out if you miss some details, we’ll fix that next using the Quickmask tool.

The Quickmask tool allows us to modify our selected area with whatever tool we like. While Quickmask is activated, drawing with the pencil tool or brush will add the area you draw to the selection. Erasing an area will remove it from your selection.

To Activate the Quickmask tool, click on it on the tool palette, it’s near the bottom

Once quickmask is selected, the areas in red represent the unselected part of your image.

Go ahead and clean up any areas you may have missed when you cut Jason out. Once you’re done you can go back the selection mode by clicking the Edit in Standard Mode button right next to the Quickmask button.

Then find a new place for a friend to fly..