How to Lasso Photos with Textures

When using textures its a little known fact that "stuff on the face" doesn't work often.

Some people seem to have trouble removing the texture without it looking out of place.

What I do rather than use an eraser tool is to "lasso" things out.

With the lasso you can feather the edges to help create a softer less noticeable edge.

Step 1: Open your photo and edit it to your liking 1st. I was given this photo by a friend. She wanted me to work my magic so I did

Here's a before image (SOOC – Straight Out Of Camera) to show you what I was working with (the final image will be revealed at the end of this post).

Step 2: Once your image is edited to your liking you can select a texture you would like to use.

Don't have any textures?

I'm fixing to spoil you all right now… so I better hear a Thank you!

• Texture Site 1

• Texture Site 2

• Texture Site 3

Once you decide on a texture open it up alongside your image.

Once your image is open you need to click on your "move" tool
(top left corner of Photoshop Elements – looks like an arrow w/ a cross in it).

Then click your texture and hold down the mouse button, dragging the texture over top of your image.

Step 3: Once your have your texture over top of your image (it will show up as a new layer) you will need to resize it. Most textures are smaller than the image you are working with. Just click on one of the corners of the texture (still using the move tool) and drag it to make it larger.

Step 4: Now that your texture is the same size as your image you will want to change the OPACITY some… or another method is to click on the drop down box above your layer that says "normal" and put it on "soft light." The soft light method works for me most times… but sometimes people want the opacity a bit darker so they do it manually.

Your image will then become partly transparent.

Step 5: Once you can see through the textures and see the original photograph, you are ready to get rid of the texture from the persons face.
To do this select your LASSO tool. (looks like a little rope)

• Once your lasso is selected you will want to change the feathering of it to 25px (it will normally be set at 0px). This is located at the top left corner.

• Once you have it set for 25 px you can then outline the part of your photo you want no texture. Just hold down your mouse and begin to draw like a pencil If you want a more persise cut out job you will want to zoom in some on the subjects. You can do bits and pieces with this method.. not an entire section if you choose to do so. With this particular image I wasnt so much concerned about being exact… and just outlined it roughly.

• Once outlined hit CTRL – X or on macs COMMAND-X and it will delete the texture from the lasso'd area. You can also right click the image and just delete the selected area… but CTRL-X is much faster!

Then you're done!

For this photo I did decide to add 2 textures… I wanted a bit more drama for it

You can add as many textures as you want on top of each photo. You can even adjust the HUE of a texture once its on top of the photograph. Its fun to play with so try new things!

Here is the final image I came up with…

I hope this helps! Feel free to comment with any questions you may have.


Panamerican 25 yr. old, Mother of 2 boys, Aspiring Photographer and Pastors Wife. I am told that I "Live in a Fish Bowl." I want more than anything to be transparent and honest… and welcome the world into "our bowl."

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