Cut Out an Image in Photoshop
You’ll quickly isolate a subject using Select Subject and the Quick Selection Tool, then refine edges with Select and Mask for clean results. Finally, you’ll either remove the background or cut and paste the subject into a new image.
Step-by-step instructions
Open your image
Go to File → Open and choose your photo.
Select the subject
Choose the Quick Selection Tool (W) from the toolbar.
In the Options bar, enable Sample All Layers (for composites) and Enhance Edge.
Click Select → Subject to auto‑select the main foreground.
Refine the selection
Click Select → Select and Mask…
Adjust Edge Detection and use the Refine Edge Brush Tool on hair and soft edges.
Tweak Global Refinements (Smooth/Feather/Contrast/Shift Edge) as needed.
Click OK to return with an improved selection.
Remove background or extract the subject
To delete the selected area from the current image, press Delete/Backspace.
To move the selection elsewhere: Edit → Cut (Ctrl/Cmd+X), open the target file (File → Open), then Edit → Paste (Ctrl/Cmd+V).
Alternative for older versions
Manually outline using the Lasso Tool, Marquee Tool, or Magic Wand Tool if Select Subject is unavailable.
Proceed with Select and Mask for refinement, then delete or cut/paste as above.
