billpa

Actually the best way to cut out images is mastering the pen tool. The polygon lasso tool is okay but it only draws in straight lines. So its very hard or time consuming to get a good curve from it. You can create bezier curves with the pen tool and you can transform each handle independently (by holding down ALT when you grab a handle). You can also go back and edit your points with the direct selection tool (the white cursor). The pen tool creates a path (make sure you select path button in options tool bar...the other option is shape which would fill the path with color which makes it impossible to trace) with points. That is why you can edit it directly. However, you need to convert your final path to a selection so you can cut out the image (selection is the area defined by the animated dashed line). So after you complete the path and you are happy with it, you need to select the direct selection cursor and mouse over any part of the path. Right click on the path and an options dialog will come up. Select Make Selection and it will convert the path to a selection. Hope this helps. billpa