Adding a Background

To finish this portrait off, you ll add a soft-edged background:

1. Choose the Magic Wand tool. Set the tolerance to 32 .

2. Click in the white background to select it.

3. Choose the Rectangular Marquee tool. In the Options bar, set the feather to 40 px.

4. Click the Subtract From Selection icon.

5. Click about a half-inch or so from the upper-left edge and drag down to the very bottom, about an inch or so from the lower-right edge, as shown in Figure H1.18.

   
   Figure H1.18: The feathered selection border

6. Click the Swatches tab in the Color/Swatches/ Styles palette cluster. Choose a color by clicking a swatch (see Figure H1.19).

   
   Figure H1.19: Choosing a color in the Swatches palette

7. Press Option-Delete/Alt-Backspace to fill the area with color.

8. Deselect and save.