Help with Photo Cutouts

[kelleyp777]

I need to lasso a group picture to put it on a photo collage (for a sports poster). I just can't figure out how to do this. These are the steps I've taken, but it isn't doing what I need. I want to be able to go into the picture after I have cut it out and restore some of the background layer. For example, I accidentally cut out part of a tennis shoe, but I need to get it back. I'm guessing it could somehow be done with a layer mask, but I just can't get it to work correctly. These are the steps I've tried:

Duplicate background layer
Use a combination of lasso & selection tools to select the area I want to cut out
Select inverse & cut

These 3 steps work fine. But when I try to create a layer mask, I just erase the cutout.

Please help!

Kelley

[mistermonday]

Kelley, duplicate the background first and then select the area that you want to cut out. Do not select the inverse but instead click on the add layer mask button at the bottom of the Layers Palette. Now turn OFF the visibility of the background layer.
Go back to the top cutout layer and click on the mask. Now with a white brush you can paint over the areas that you want to bring back and with a black brush paint over areas you still wish to remove. This way you have destryed nothing and you can paint in or out whatever you like.

[kelleyp777]

Thanks so much! I knew this had to be super-easy, but I just don't know enough about photoshop to make my life easier sometimes! Thanks again for your reply.

Kelley

[mistermonday]

Kelley, you are very welcome,
Regards, Murray