Removing a Person

When it comes to photography, the aim is always to create the most perfect images, but sometimes there’s little details that need to be fixed in Photoshop. This could be anything from subtle colour correction, to more demanding tasks such as removing people or objects in photos.

In this Photoshop class Karl shows you how to remove a person in Photoshop, explaining his workflow and demonstrating the tools he uses to do so. He explains some of the most effective methods for the job and points out key considerations that will help you achieve the most natural looking result.

Throughout this process Karl uses tools such Curves adjustments, masks and the clone and healing brush. If you’re unfamiliar with any of these, we recommend watching the relevant chapters in our Individual Photoshop Tools course. These tools and techniques are also covered in more detail throughout our other Photoshop classes.

This Photoshop class covers the following:

  • How to remove a person from a photo in Photoshop
  • Useful tools for removing objects in Photoshop
  • Combining elements of different images
  • How to match perspective using Transform tools in Photoshop
  • Techniques for cloning without repetition
  • Using the Brush tool to removing something in Photoshop

If you have any questions about this class, please post in the comment section below.


How to remove objects in Photoshop

Removing a person or object from a photo using Photoshop can be as straightforward as simply using the clone or healing brush tool. Or, it can be a lot more complex with a need for multiple tools and techniques. Whatever the situation, there are a few key things to look out for that will help you achieve the most natural looking result.

While quick-fix tools such as Content-Aware Fill or the Patch tool offer speedy solutions, often you’ll find they leave traces of tell-tale signs that something is missing from the image. Perspective, colour and light are three key elements to consider when working in Photoshop, as each of these is a clear sign that something has been removed or changed in an image. These are covered throughout the video, where you’ll see Karl use techniques such as Curves adjustments, Transform tools and brushes to achieve realistic looking results.

Although this is a fairly complex retouch, you’ll learn a number of useful skills, including how to copy areas of different images to completely recreate missing parts of an image.

Removing a person in Photoshop example

Before removing the subject.

Removing a person in Photoshop example

After removing the subject.

Comments

  1. Hello Dear Karl,

    Awesome tutorial! I can’t thank you enough for all the things that I learnt from this video and the others too!

    Best Regards,
    Ali

  2. Great video! Learned lots of tips! Just wondering rather than using the opacity setting whilst attempting to balance out the shadow on the lower edge of the frame, could you burn/dodge after the content has been merged to the layer maybe as a final step?

    Thanks!!

    AG

    1. Hi AG, please can you let us know at what time in minutes and seconds in the video you are referring to?

        1. Hi AG, yes B&D is another option for this if you prefer but I usually find cloning with a 50% opacity back and forth gives me a nice blend and then I fine tune it with B&D at the end but if just using B&D works for you then no problem.

  3. Fie Sir! To take in vain Guernsey’s equivalent of Monet or Turner! The duplicate was created between 21:30 and 21:50 of the video.
    However, notwithstanding, it’s still a great video.
    Ted

  4. Hi Karl,
    Thank you for a great tutorial on how to clone significant areas of an image.
    I was interested to discover I use most of these techniques but still gained a lot from it. Mostly the fine details like lightening the top edge of the recreated paining behind the table to match its neighbour. It is those details which make it all work.
    I was also interested to see you left a duplicate area in the picture just underneath the prominent black rock below the horizon. I say ‘left’ as opposed to ‘missed’ in case it was a test to see how observant we are!
    Keep up the great work.
    Ted

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