This tutorial is for use with Adobe® Photoshop®.

Rename the picture you will be working with so that it doesn't get overwritten.
Check the size of your image and the resolution of your subject.
I do not recommend any resolution under 150 if you are going to print this picture. I like using a resolution of 300dpi.
You can make your image smaller without loosing any detail. Making a small image larger will cause some pixilation to occur.
Now that we have the subject image open, let's begin.

 

Step 1:
Select layer>new> background from layer.

 

Step 2:
Use the lasso tool to outline your subject
Go to select on the menu bar and select inverse
Then go to edit and cut
That will take out the background
Now we will work around our subject

 

Step 3:
Using the Zoom Tool, zoom in on your subject where the background needs to be erased.
We do not want to leave any of the old background in you new photo
Select the Erase Tool and adjust your brush size so that you will not erase any of your subject only the background

 

Step 4:
You will need to adjust the diameter and the hardness and the opacity of the brush to give you the desired effect. Around the hair, I use about a 45% opacity or lower to get around the fine hair. I use 75% to 100% around the reset of the subject to make sure that the background is not present around subject.

 

Step 5:
You need to save your work periodically.
I am calling this cutoutimage1.

 

Step 6:
Open the background file that you want to put behind the subject.
I will be using med-600easter.jpg.
Save this file under a new name so that you don't overwrite your backdrop.
Change the resolution of the background to match the resolution of my subject
Go to Image>Image Size to do this

 

Step 7:
Go to the subject image
Go to Select>All
Then to Edit>Copy

 

Step 8:
Go to the background that you are using and select Edit>Paste
Then go to Edit>Transfer>Scale
Scale your image to how you want it in proportion to the background.

 

Step 9:
Save the new background as a different name.
I saved mine as "finished image".
Now duplicate the subject layer.
Go to layer>duplicate layer

 

Step10:
Go to Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast
Make the image black by adjusting the brightness and contrast.
Change the layer order to put your image in on top.

 

Step11:
Go to Filter>Blur>Gaulasion Blur
Adjust to make it look like a little bit of shadow behind the image.

 

Step12:
Adjust the image and the background so they look uniform.
Go to Image> Adjustments> brightness/Contrast
Play around with it, and have fun.
Save your work!

 

Step13:
If you are happy with the result and do not wish to change anything else,
Go to Layer> Fatten Image and save your image as a jpg file or tiff file.

 

That's it!