How to Make an Object Pop Out in Photoshop

Okay, here is how to make an object pop out in Photoshop.

Making an object "pop out" in Photoshop typically refers to creating an illusion where a subject or part of it appears to extend beyond the boundaries of the image frame, giving it a dynamic, almost 3D effect.

Achieving a pop-out effect in Photoshop involves isolating your subject and then manipulating it to appear as though it's breaking free from the image constraints.

Step 1: Select the Subject

The crucial first step is to isolate the part of the image you want to make 'pop out'. Use the selection tool of your choice to make a selection around the object(s) that will "pop out" of the image. This might be a person, an animal, or an object.

Popular selection tools include:

• Pen Tool: Excellent for precise selections, especially around curved or complex shapes.
• Lasso Tool (or Polygonal/Magnetic Lasso): Useful for quick, freehand, or straight-edged selections.
• Object Selection Tool: Can often quickly identify and select distinct objects.
• Quick Selection Tool: Good for selecting areas based on texture and color similarity.
• Select Subject: An AI-powered tool that attempts to automatically select the main subject.

Tip: After making a selection, you'll likely need to refine it using the 'Select and Mask' workspace to ensure clean edges, especially around hair or fur.

Step 2: Isolate the Subject

Once your selection is refined:

1. Copy the selection: Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac).
2. Paste onto a new layer: Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac). This places your isolated subject on its own layer above the original background. It's also good practice to duplicate your background layer (Ctrl+J or Cmd+J) before you start, just in case.

Step 3: Create the Pop-Out Illusion

Now that the subject is on its own layer, you can manipulate it to create the effect. The most common method involves creating a foreground 'frame' or adding elements that the subject appears to break through.

Here’s a basic approach:

1. Add a frame or foreground element: You can use the original background as a frame (e.g., crop the background layer to create a border), or add a separate frame image, a shape, or even use parts of the original scene. Place this frame layer below your subject layer.
2. Position the subject: Select the subject layer. Use the Move Tool (V) to position the subject so that part of it extends beyond the edges of the frame layer below it.
3. Mask the subject: Select the subject layer. Click the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
4. Reveal/Conceal parts of the subject:
   • Select the mask thumbnail (the white box) on the subject layer.
   • Use a Brush Tool (B) with the foreground color set to Black (#000000) to paint on the mask. Painting with black hides pixels on that layer, making the part of the subject painted black disappear.
   • Use a brush with the foreground color set to White (#FFFFFF) to reveal pixels (make the subject reappear).
   • Carefully paint on the mask to hide the parts of the subject that should be behind the frame, and reveal the parts that should appear in front of or breaking through the frame.

Step 4: Add Depth and Realism

To enhance the effect:

• Add a Drop Shadow: Double-click the subject layer (not the mask thumbnail) to open Layer Style options. Add a Drop Shadow to make the subject appear lifted off the background or frame. Adjust settings like distance, spread, and size.
• Add other effects: Consider adding an Outer Glow, Bevel & Emboss, or other effects depending on the desired look.
• Add a shadow on the background/frame: Sometimes, adding a shadow on the frame layer (painted manually on a new layer between the subject and frame layers, or using layer styles) where the subject would cast one can add realism.

Summary Table of Key Tools

Tool	Purpose for Pop-Out Effect
Selection Tools	Isolating the main subject (Pen, Lasso, etc.)
Move Tool (V)	Positioning the subject layer
Layer Mask	Controlling which parts of the subject are visible
Brush Tool (B)	Painting on the layer mask (Black to hide, White to reveal)
Layer Styles	Adding shadows and other effects

By following these steps, you can create the illusion of an object popping out of your image in Photoshop.