Make a selection of the simplest area to select (in
this case the sky) with the magic wand tool. We are soon going to
cut the sky out of the background and put a new background behind
the cactus.
Duplicate the original background layer (as I always teach) by
dragging it to the new layer icon as shown. You want to keep an
original of the image so you can come back to (in case of emergency)
for G.P.
Here I've dragged (drug, drugged?) another copy to the new layer
icon to retain an original and to fill this layer with a color in
the next step.
You can also just click on the new layer icon itself but remember
that it will create a new blank layer above whatever layer is
currently selected in the layers palette so you will have to select
the background layer first (or you can move the layer order
afterwards).
Edit: Fill is one way you can fill. Take note of what layer you want
to fill and make sure that is the one that is selected in the layers
palette.
Now select the layer you want to cut the background out of ( in
the layers palette).
You may have to re-select the background with the
magic wand tool (in this case). Edit: Cut to get rid of the selected
area (the blue sky). Note how the cactus is left on its own.
You have cut or erased the pixels you selected on
that layer. This is basic stuff you must understand before you can
move on to really cool stuff, oh apprentice.
The paint bucket is another way you can 'fill' a
layer with a color.
Choose a color from the color or swatches palette
(the eyedropper will automatically appear).
This will now be the selected color that appears in
the foreground color chooser in the bottom of the toolbar. Make sure
you are on the proper layer in the layers palette that you are going
to fill and get rid of anything else that is there.
Choose the paint bucket and click it to fill the
layer with the color. You can also use Alt/Opt backspace to
fill with the foreground color.
You can also choose pattern fill from the options bar or from the
Edit: Fill menu.
Just click and the entire layer (or selection) will
fill with the pattern you've chosen.
