Cutting out an image

[Phoenix Wynde]

Let's say I use Magic Wand Tool, completely delete the area around the image I want, how do I keep just the image without the background itself?

I just want to save the image without the white background.

Also, let's say I want to take that same image later on down the road and apply it to something else, how do I go about doing that?

Many thanks from this newbie.

[zlatiborac]

You have a few choices. First if you want to use it later save it as a PSD file. Offcourse image is on sole layer
If you want to save as image use png or gif but there is also a few issues with that also. If you save it as a PNG file than you can't use it on the web because IE don't see it's transparency....

[stevieg]

If you want to just save a cut out, you first have to duplicate the background layer, this will give you a transparent layer with the background layer on top.
Click on the eye on the original background layer to turn it off. Now select your duplicated layer and remove what ever you want to acheive your desired effect. If you dont make the original background invisable you won't be able to see what is being removed from the copy layer.
Hope this helps. Anymore questions just ask. Goos luck

[Phoenix Wynde]

Originally Posted by stevieg

If you want to just save a cut out, you first have to duplicate the background layer, this will give you a transparent layer with the background layer on top.
Click on the eye on the original background layer to turn it off. Now select your duplicated layer and remove what ever you want to acheive your desired effect. If you dont make the original background invisable you won't be able to see what is being removed from the copy layer.
Hope this helps. Anymore questions just ask. Goos luck

Ok, I've tried what you suggested but the background around the image is still white when I go to save it and then reopen it to see if I did it correctly. I don't want to see the white, or any color background for that matter. I just want to keep the image itself.

Let me put it like this: say I have a pic of a forest, I want to keep one tree out of that whole forest, so I delete them using the Magic Wand tool and erase the left over crap, like the misc. debris. Ok, so I have my one tree I wanted. I go to save it and when I do, the pic still stays the same in size and instead of the forest being there, it's replaced by white background.

I only want the tree, nothing more.

[zapphnath]

You have to save it as a PNG, GIF, or PSD file - no other file-type supports transparency.
When you try to save it as a JPG or BMP, Photoshop automatically places the white background on.

[tamlin]

Originally Posted by zapphnath

You have to save it as a PNG, GIF, or PSD file - no other file-type supports transparency.
When you try to save it as a JPG or BMP, Photoshop automatically places the white background on.

Also, if you save it as a PSD, you can use the "extracted" image in another PSD file - just open both PSDs in Photoshop and then use the Move tool to drag from one image to the other.