How To Remove Backgrounds From Traditional Artwork Using Photoshop

Hey guys, this has been my most requested vlog topic so far - How To Remove Backgrounds From Traditional Artwork Using Photoshop!
Today I’m taking you through the steps that I take every time I want to prepare my artwork for product and pattern making.
I’m by no means an expert so there may be an easier way around this. But I thought I’d share it with you today for anyone starting out.
As always, if you have any questions or queries for me then pop them in the comments below. Hope you find this video helpful!
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[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Absolutely fascinating and so informative! Thanks so much for sharing your process Dee 🥀🐞

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

So glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching 💕

[@SamadiGalhena]

This is the most informative & helpful video I saw on YT related to this topic. I watched so many videos on removing backgrounds but most of them didn't help. Thank you so much!! BTW I really like your paintings..

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Thank you so much, I'm so happy this helped you! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, I really appreciate it 🍄

[@wendyjkennedy]

Command+J - You might like this keyboard shortcut as it will save you a lot of clicks when cutting out all those elements. No need to make a new layer as the shortcut does it for you. Make your selection, press command+J and your selection will be copied to a newly created layer. I remember it as J for “jump” to a new layer. 😊

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Super helpful! Thank you so much for sharing ☺️

[@jana_lee]

You deserve everything for this. Thank you!

[@vanchetoO]

This is the best tutorial I found on this topic. Thank you so much for sharing :)

[@Sooz3112]

Thank you so much. I didn't know that I could use the iPad and Apple pencil with Photoshop on the iPad. I've been trying to use free software to edit on my Mac but I find it difficult using a mouse to tidy up edges. If I can use the Apple pencil and install Photoshop - I will find it so much easier to work on my iPad. Thank you for sharing - your work is beautiful x

[@Vainu]

Thank you so much!! 😍 So helpful and easy to understand, even for a beginner.

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

So glad you found the video and that it was helpful 💕 best of luck to you going forward with your art!

[@bonnieottaviani7132]

Excellent information, thank you!

[@aricar325]

Excellent tutorial, many helpful details. Many thanks! :)

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Glad it was helpful! 💕

[@janblackwellart]

Thank you so much, brilliant video and very helpful.

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it and found it useful 💕

[@barefacedquestions]

I know how to remove background, but for me the edge refinement is the most tedious and time-consuming task. I suppose having a high-resolution, high-quality scan helps. Your scanned artwork before you removed the background is so beautiful and vibrant.

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Thank you! And yes, it is quite a long process. It's easier to do on artwork that has solid colours or obvious outlines, but it can be done on any with some time and practice 💕

[@sd.m3521]

Hi Dee! Thank you so much for sharing this, I really appreciate it as I’m getting ready to launch my shop and figuring out how to put my watercolors on POD products! I was wondering, how do you connect your iPad to your Mac so you can use photoshop on it? Is it a built-in screen mirroring option or do you have to download an app for it? Thank you!

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Hi, thanks for watching! I have Photoshop also downloaded on my iPad and have everything saved on the cloud so I can access my projects from both 😊

[@DianeC1975]

This was so interesting Dee. Wow. 👍🤗💕💕

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Thanks Diane! There's a lot that goes into it but it's a fun process 💕 xxx

[@anjadedobbelaere9958]

hey thanks for the video; but I'd love to know more about the finetuning... near the end of the video, everything suddenly goes so fast, how do you clean up the edges in stage 2?

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Hi thanks for watching! That part is shown from 7:12 onwards. I use the Eraser tool to draw around each element and clean up the edges. I use my iPad and Apple pencil for this part but you can use a mouse or trackpad on a computer or laptop to get the same effect.

[@anjadedobbelaere9958]

@@thebutterflytoadstool oh okay it seems I missed that, thanks.

[@sordidpath]

What level of hardness is the eraser set too for the clean up part?

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Hi Chelsey, thanks for watching! That depends on how you want your finished artwork to look. 100% will give a more solid, sharp line, whereas a lighter eraser will give a softer finish. Play about with it and see which one looks best for your artwork 😊

[@katiemarch_art]

Thank you for this! Any other beginner photoshop videos you are willing to share would be very much appreciated! Curious specifically about how to create artwork for a client that allows them to edit text or verbiage on the file. I am an ultimate beginner at all things digital 🫣

[@thebutterflytoadstool]

Thank you. Yes I have another tutorial type video coming out this week that could be used for your needs! Stay tuned for that one coming soon 😊

[@katiemarch_art]

@@thebutterflytoadstool appreciate it so so much!