Photoshop. How do you mask the photo layer to edit out a background?

how do you edit out a background behind a person by using a mask? i have Photoshop CS3Photoshop. How do you mask the photo layer to edit out a background?
Use black crayon.Photoshop. How do you mask the photo layer to edit out a background?
You don't really use a mask. Carefully select the person, using first the magnetic selection tool to get most of him and then add to the selection using the polygon selection tool.





Once everything you want to keep is selected, you have a couple of options. You can copy the selection to a new layer (preferred), or you can ';invert'; the selection and select everything except your subject. Then press ';Del';.
First, make sure the image you are working with is not in the ';background'; layer or you won't be able to apply the mask. The easiest way to change it to a regular layer is to double click it and click ';OK'; in the dialog box that appears.





Use a combination of the selection tools to select what you want to keep. You can zoom in and use the polygonal lasso tool for the best results. I sometimes use the magic wand tool first if the background is pretty solid and in contrast to the piece I want to keep and then clean it up with the polygonal lasso tool. Go slow and do it in pieces. You can always hold down the shift key while using one of the selection tools to add more to the selection.





At the bottom of the layers pallet, you will see a rectangle with a circle in it. Click it. Whatever is not selected will drop out. To turn off the mask, right click on the mask part of the layer and choose ';Disable Layer Mask'; from the menu.





Good luck!