Silhouette How-To

I've had a several people ask me how to make the silhouette's I've posted on my blog. First off, this is MUCH easier than you think, and secondly there are at least two ways of doing this. I do mine digitally, so if you have photoshop or other similar photo editing software, this is how I do it:

1. Take a picture-try to do it against a solid colored wall. A clean background will make things much easier.



2. Once you've uploaded the photo to your computer, open it in the photo editing software. I'll give instructions for photoshop, but the functions are basic enough that any other editing software should have something similar. The "tools" are shown in red circles to help you out.



3. Using the "magic wand" tool, select the background areas (simply click on the area and the tool will "magically" select the area to its edge). Then delete the selected areas (do this by using "ctrl+x" or on a mac "apple+x". Or if commands are too complicated for you, go to "edit" then "delete selection").

Selected Area:


Deleted Areas:


The "magic wand" tool will remove most of the background, but if you have some spots left, simply use the eraser tool to clean it up (you may have some edges that need a little attention too):



4. Now, go to "Image," "Adjustments," then "Brightness/Contrast."



Move the Contrast bar to the far right:


5. Finally, using your brush tool (black), fill in the areas that remain.




That's it! Print it and frame it and you're done!

If you don't have photo editing software, or you just want to do it the ol' fashioned way, my friend lauren has a tutorial here. The cutout method works especially well if you want to use a patterned paper for some added personality.



Good luck!