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Cutting a matte

The matte cutter tool, available for Enhanced and Extreme users, is an add-on application that will open your selected photo and allow you to select a portion of the image to instantly create a matte. This tool allows you to extract components of an image and eliminate the background images, without affecting your original source image

 

 

 

To use the matte cutter tool, select an image frame , which will expose the Image Toolbox. Select the TOOL option, then the matte buttonMatte Cutter Tool.

Toolbox - tools

 

 

A new window will appear with your image contained within it. You can resize the window by pulling on its edges, and zoom in and out of the photo using your mouse wheel or by tapping Ctrl + or Ctrl - on your keyboard. Resizing the window will allow you to expose more ore less of the image.
 

Image by David Ziser

Image by David Ziser

 

In this example, we will be extracting the bouquet from the rest of the image.

 

To draw the matte, simply click and draw around the edge of the area you wish to extract.

 

A red line will follow the cursor. Do not worry if it is not perfect, as you can go back and fix it afterwards.

 

Please note, you are drawing freehand. The line is not snapping to the image in any manner.

 

To restart, hit the ESC key twice.

 

matte cutter eg 3

 

When you have finished outlining the whole area, the image will look like this:

 

matte cutter eg 2

 

The matted portion is highlighted, and the background, to be hidden by the matte, is greyed out.

 

To adjust the edges of the matte, simply click and redraw near the matte.

If you wish to extend the matte further than the current edge, draw outside the matte to add to the highlighted area.
If you wish to reduce the matte back into the image, click inside the matte and redraw the contour, erasing the area you do not wish to have covered.

 

When you are satisfied with the results, click on FILE >> Exit to close the editor.

 

Your image will refresh to display the matted image on your canvas.
 

matte cutter eg 4

 

 

The frame can be resized -- note that the frame borders are those of the entire unmatted image and not cropped to the edge of the matte.

You cannot move the image with regards to the matte. It is locked to prevent the image edges from moving outside the contour of the matte's edge.

 

If you accidentally resize the frame and cut the image off, then right-mouse-down on the frame and select SNAP FRAME TO IMAGE. Then entire image will be exposed.

 

After you have added your custom matte, Image Editor attributes can be applied, eg. brightness, tinting, etc. You can also soften the matte in the Frame Editor, to soften the edges.

 

To turn off the matte, click on the frame, open the Frame Editor and uncheck the matte.

 

 

 

 

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