Photoshop Creative

Cut-out layered technique
By Christell

(I am using PSE5)
Open photo
1- Ctrl. J to duplicate. Turn eye off background layer.
2- With this layer highlighted, choose a selection tool: such as lasso, magic wand, etc.
3- Make a selection around a part of picture you want traced around. (Trace right inside the lines to get the cut-out effect without overlapping the line for each piece).
4- After the selection is complete Ctrl. J to duplicate to get this piece on its own layer.
5- Go to Layer styles>bevels>Simple Emboss>Apply.
6- Go to Layer Styles>Drop shadows>Low>Apply.

Highlight the background copy layer again.
Make another selection & complete the same steps as above (2 thru 6).
Do these steps until you have all your cut-outs selected & layer styles added to each one.
Throughout this process you can turn the eye off & on to the background copy layer to see your cut-out effect.
NOTE: Some layers may have to be dragged to the top to show the layered effect.

When all of the cut-outs are completed turn off the eye on the background copy layer. The background should be transparent.
Apply a background, texture, or overlay to the background. Use one or combine to create a texture with overlay effect.

Thanks. Christell, you have such great techniques. Save some of them for the newsletter!!!!!

Glad you like it. I have put some in the newsletters & don't think I should put one in every newsletter to give others a chance to submit.
Thanks
Christell

Christell--Thanks for the tutorial, that was fun!! Here's Mine:

Nice one Jancy. I like what you did for your background.
Christell

Tried it on Wisteria:
Christell

Christell That came out gorgeous--Looks like you put in a long time selecting. Just beautiful!!

Thanks Jancy. I actually have about 123 cut-out layers on this one between the petals, leaves & stems. Sometimes a little time-consuming to get the detail.
Christell

Tx for sharing how many layers may need. I will have to practice patience

If you look close at mine I actually trace around each petal part, each stem, etc. & put each one on its own layer instead of the just tracing the outside of the whole flower. That is what gives it the space around each item.
Christell