"Background Eraser Tool" is the new Magic Wand

We are going to use a very little known Photoshop tool call "Background Eraser Tool". It's a super useful tool for removing background colors while preserving the main picture that you want. It's pretty simple so you can start using it immediately after the tutorial.

1. Open up a image you want to remove the background from. Try to choose a picture with the background that contrast with the main picture.You can duplicate this layer if you want to preserve the original picture.

Image source: http://alexandramaria.deviantart.com/art/endless-summer-IV-96487618

2. Click the "Background Eraser Tool". Set a soft brush(Low hardness) with the size comfortable to remove the background. Set :"Sampling: Once". Leave the tolerance at 50%. Select "Protect Foreground Color".



3. Click the "Eyedropper Tool" to select the color of the picture you want to protect. For my picture, i would click the log.




4. Switch back to "Background Eraser Tool" .Click on the color of the background and start dragging around to erase the background.


5. If there is change in the color of the foreground, switch back to "Eyedropper" Tool and sample the color again. Repeat Step 4 again.



6. After you erase the entire background, let your imagination run wild!!



Here is another i tried using the same technique( You can download the original pic here):
Original Pic:


Edited Pic:

Apple + Orange = Opple~~

I took an image of an apple:

apple by ~turtle1189 on deviantART

and change it to a orange:

Apple+Orange : Opple by ~p0larBoy on deviantART

Glossy Icons !!!

Any half decent photoshop tutorial website will bound to have a glossy icon tutorial, so here i am trying to design a unique glossy icon. I came across one of a forumer's avatar and i think it look pretty cool and is unique with it's gloss effect. So here's the tutorial on achieving this glossy effect for your icon.

1. Open up a new 500px X 500px document. 

2. Fill up the document's background with #9c9c9c.

3. Create a new layer and use the Elliptical Marquee Tool to draw out a circle or any size you prefer.Name it "Black".

4. Fill it up with #000000.

5. Create a new layer above. Draw out another circle with the similiar tool and fill it up with #ffffff. We name this layer "white".

6. Create another layer above "white" and Ctrl-Click the "white" layer. Fill it up with #7e7e7e.

7. Use the marquee tool to select portion of the layer and cut it away by pressing delete.

8. Change the layer's blending 

9. With the layer selected, Go to Layer>Layer mask>Reveal All.

10. Using the Gradient tool, give the layer a mask from the top to roughly 2/3 of the circle.

11. Create a new layer and Ctrl-Click on the white layer again.

12. Using the Elliptical tool, select "Subtract from Selection" and Subtract away the top part of the selection.

13. Fill it up with #0f1517.

14. Change Blending Option.

15. Make the" white" layer invisible or delete it.

16. Add a shape you like.

17. Apply the Blending Option

18. Give "Black" layer a bit of nice shadows and gradient to give it a nice feel.

The effects would look even nice if you decrease the size of your image.

Blob Design~

Nokia Trend Lab

I came across a design by Peter Jaworowski yesterday and i cant resist giving it a try in photoshop.And this is what i got:

Blue Blob by ~p0larBoy on deviantART

I'm still not satisfied with it as the design doesnt seem right because it doesn't have the "spouting" feeling that emanates from the Jaworoski's design. Maybe i would give it a few more tries and i would come up a tutorial on it.

Create a simple cartoon scene[Part 2]

Part 1: Creating Night

This is what we had from Part 1

Ok let's start creating the night scene.

1. Creating the Building

A. Create a new layer on the top.

B. Using a Pen Tool, Draw out the building shape. You can draw out the building in three different layers and den merge them together or you can just draw them all one one layer. But the former method would be more recommended as you can then adjust the buildings around.




C. Create a new layer above the Building Layers. Name it "Lights". Use a Pen tool to draw out a small rectangle.

D. Change the Blending Option of "Lights".

#fffbe to #ffffff

E. With the "Lights" layer selected, press Ctrl-J to duplicate the layers. Continue to duplicate the fill up the entire buildings. To have more variations with the shape of the lights, just use Pen tool to draw it. This is what i got :


F. Group the all the "buildings" layer and "lights" layer together and name it "B & L". With the ''B & L" layer selected, Ctrl-Click the "Land" Layer. Go to Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All.

2. Let Darkness Reign

A. Create a new layer "Darkness" below "B & L".

B. Fill up the layer with #000000.

C. Press "D" to reset the color palette to "Black" as foreground color and "White" as background color.

D. Click on the Gradient Tool and click from the right and drag to the left of the picture. Reduce the opacity to "63%".

3. Add in Rays and Star Lights

A. Create a new layer behind "B & L" but above "Darkness" layer. Name it "Shine".

B. Using the Custom Shaped Tool, create the shape behind the building.


C. Go to Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All.

D. Choose "White" as your foreground color and select the Gradient Tool.

E. Choose "White to Transparent" and Radial Gradient.

F. Click from the center of the shape and drag out.



G. Change the Blending Option.


H. Create a new layer call "Mountain Reflect"

I. Ctrl- Click on the "Land" layer to bring up the selection.

J. Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool and choose "Intersect with Selection. Feather: 5px. Select a part of the active selection.


K. Fill up with #000000.


L. Ctrl-D to deselect. Give the layer a "Layer Mask" . Use the Gradient Tool( Linear Gradient and B/W color) and drag from the bottom to the top. The angle of the dragging gotta depend on your slope of the mountain to your building.


M. This is how your Layer Panel should look like in case you are lost.



N. Create a New layer call "Sky".
Using the "planet" brush and Galaxy Brush, give the sky some nice touch. You can search for different type of beautiful brush using the Search Function on the top right of the page. Or you can just download mine here. Download Link

4. Rainbows~!

A. Create a new layer above "Background" and name it "Rainbow".

B. Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool and Style:Fixed Size. Width: 700px, Height: 700px.



C. Fill up with a Red Color.

D. Reduce the Width and Height by 40px and adjust the selection.



E. Fill up with Yellow Color.


F. Repeat Step D to E but with different colors.

G. After you are done with the colors, reduce the marquee size for the last time and click delete.



H. Change the Blending Option.



I. Transform it to make it abit smaller or up to your preference.


J. Now we will give the rainbow a shine. Create a new layer above the "Rainbow" layer.Ctrl-Click on the "Rainbow" layer to bring up the selection. Fill it up with #ffffff.

K. Using the pen tool, select out the part that u want to clear away.

L. Right-click and Select "Make Selection".


M. Press Delete.


N. Change the Fill Opacity to "0%".

O. Change the Blending Option.

Ok finally we are done!!

Final Version:

Day and Night Cartoon Scene by ~p0larBoy on deviantART

For the full view : Click here