Photoshop 7.0: cutting/croping question?

[RachelS.]

Let's say you have a picture of your snake and you want to cut out the snake and get rid of the background to create another one. What do you do?? I have been trying to figure this out, but I'm just slow lol. Thanks!!!

[Saboter]

It isn't as easy for me to type what i need to help you out so here's an ss with info for you :)

ScreenShot (http://www.exo-clan.com/selection.jpg)

[doenoe]

Just hold ctrl-alt-x
then you can draw a line around the thing you want. Then fill it with the bucket (the thing you want to cut out gets blue then) Just be sure to close the the line, else everything in the pic gets blue and you dont want that :) The preview it, if you like it, click ok. If you dont, start over again. Its a great tool, works better then the lasso tool, but thats just my opinion :D
Greetz Daan

[Invictus]

The extract tool only works if there is a huge contrast between the image you are extracting and the background. Aside from that it's useless. You'll need to use the Polygonal lasso tool. I'd personally recommend feathering it by 2 pixels - this gives you nice smooth edges when you crop it, which eliminates the imperfections of the human hand. Once you have traced out the snake, you can either right click to copy the extraction to a new layer (It's always good to keep your elements on separate layers - you'll thank yourself for it later.) or do what you wish from there. The important thing is the feathering of the selection. I've had great success doing it this way.

[RachelS.]

Thanks guys!! I will try that :D