Trees can add a natural and peaceful element to the composition. However, there may be times when you want to remove the background from a tree in your photo, whether it’s to create a more minimalist look or to use the tree in a different background.
Removing the background from a tree can seem like a daunting task, especially for those new to Photoshop. However, with the right Photoshop tool and techniques, you can easily remove background from trees in Photoshop and achieve a clean and professional result.
In this article, we will talk about how to remove background from trees in Photoshop. So you can achieve the desired effect in your photos.
A Step-by-step guide: how to remove background from trees in Photoshop
Step 1: Open the Image in Photoshop
Open your Image in Photoshop. Go to “File > Open” or drag and drop the photo in your Photoshop to open the Image.
Step 2: Create a Copy of Blue Channel
First, go to the channel panel located beside the layer panel. If you cannot find the channel option, go to “Window > Channel” to visible it.
Then, select the blue channel and right-click on your mouse. You will see two options here. From there, click on the “Duplicate Channel” option. Now, a popup window will appear. There, set the channel name and click OK.
Then, turn off the visibility of all channels except the copy channel.
Step 3: Adjustment Level
In the next step, you have to adjust the level to make dark areas darker and white areas whiter. Go to Image> Adjustments > Levels to do it. Then, you can see the level adjustments.
Now click the shadow slider and move it right until your Image gets the proper darker look. After that, click the highlight slider, move it to the left, and experiment with the appropriate white.
Make sure that the tree of the Image gets fully dark and the background is white.
This slider value depends on the image need. You can see the Image below; the tree is fully dark, and the other part is white. Now, click “OK”.
Step 4: Use Dodge and Burn Tools
If you aren’t satisfied after using Levels adjustment, use the Dodge and Burn tools. Select the Dodge tool and paint over the white areas to highlight more. And use the burn tool to make the dark areas darker. Select the burn tool and paint over the area you want to keep. Now, you can see the Image is perfectly painted.
Step 5: Create a Selection
After the slider is in the perfect position, you have to select the tree. To choose the tree, press and hold the Ctrl key and click on the tree icon located in the copy channel.
Step 6: Layer Mask
After selecting the tree, go to the bottom of the layer panel and then click on the layer mask icon. Now, you can see the background is removed.
If you have any problem, like your tree is invisible, invert the selection. To reverse the selection, press Ctrl+I from the keyboard and see the magic.
Step 7: Refine Edge
When you create a mask, you can see some essential parts of the Image are removed. To get those parts back, double-click on the layer mask icon. Then, you can see a popup window. Here, select the brush tool and paint over the areas that you want to restore.
To remove some unwanted parts, press and hold the Alt key and paint over the part.
Step 8: Place Background
Your tree background is almost removed. If you want to replace the tree with a new background, import the background and keep the background layer behind the tree layer.
You can also create an adjustment layer by clicking on the Create new fill option. You can see the option at the bottom of the layer panel.
Saving and exporting your images with transparent backgrounds
Once you have successfully removed the tree background in Photoshop, it’s important to save and export your images with transparent backgrounds. This allows you to use them in various projects without any limitations or restrictions.
Now, go to the “File > Save As” to save the Image with a transparent background. Choose a file format that contains transparency, such as PNG or TIFF. These formats preserve the transparency of information in the Image.
It’s always a good idea to double-check your exported Image by opening it in a different program or placing it over a different background to ensure that the transparency is intact.
By following these steps, you can perfectly remove tree backgrounds in Photoshop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, removing the background from trees in Photoshop is a time-consuming and challenging task. However, with the proper techniques and tools, such as the ones discussed in this article, it is possible to achieve stunning results.
Remember always to double-check your exported images to ensure that the transparency is intact. This will guarantee that your pictures blend seamlessly with different backgrounds. It makes them genuinely versatile assets for your creative endeavors.
