How to Create a Silhouette Image Using FREE Photo Editing Software

Today’s tutorial is two-fold. Yay! I love two-for-one deals, don’t you? First, I’m going to teach you how to create a silhouette of any image using FREE editing software (no Photoshop required). This technique is AWESOME because you can use it for more than just creating silhouettes. You can use it to remove the background from any picture and create those coveted “layers” that fancy photoshop people always create. Then, I’m going to take things a step further and show you how to use the new Silhouette double-sided adhesive paper to create an adorable flocked silhouette card. Let’s get this tutorial party started!

For Valentine’s Day, I wanted to make a silhouette image of my wedding picture below for a card for my man.

Step 1: Go to ipiccy.com and click on the “Create New Blend” button.

It is the fourth icon over and looks like a blue stack of papers. (Don’t upload your photo first. Click on the Create New Blend button first.) Enter the pixel size you would like for your project or just use the preset if you’re not sure.

Step 2: Click on the “Photo” tab and upload your photo.

Step 3: Re-size your picture to the desired size.

I recommend just filling the box with your picture. Just click on the picture and drag the corners to re-size.

Step 4: Click on the button that says “Vector Mask” and then on “Add Vector Mask”.

This sounds space-age and scary. It’s not. What you are doing here is drawing little dots around a part of the picture that you want to “cut out”. I “traced” around our faces clicking little dots all along the way to remove the background from the picture.

Step 5: Once you are done “tracing” your image it will look something like the picture below.

You can move each individual dot to make it as precise as possible. You can also use the “feather” tool on the left under “Mask Settings” to smooth the edge of your image. Hover over the “Apply Mask” button and see if you like the way your image looks before clicking. If everything looks good, click on Apply Mask.

Step 6: Your image is now it’s own “layer” free from its former background.You can change the color of the image by choosing “Color Overlay”.

Click anywhere on the color band to change the color. Slide the slider to black in order to create a silhouette image.

Step 7: Click the “Done” button in the upper right corner and then save your image to your computer.

Congrats! You now have a silhouette image that you can print out and frame.

 

And now we are moving on to part TWO of our tutorial! If you don’t have a Silhouette machine and want one NOW is the time to buy! They are still on sale but only briefly, so score one while you can at a discounted price. Click on this link or on the picture below and use Promo Code “A2Z” at checkout.

Step 1: Open Silhouette Studio and import your silhouette photo into a new project.

Click on the “Trace” button which is the icon on the far right of the screen that looks like a double frame. Drop and drag a square around your silhouette and choose “trace”. I deleted the inside image and was left with the following outline. You can now size this image to your desired specifications.

 

   

Step 2-8:

Step 2: Print your silhouette image on your double sided adhesive paper. This paper is like double sided tape.

Step 3: I created a cute heart cut-out on a cardstock card. I flipped the heart upside down and used the ruler feature on the Silhouette to align my heart properly on my card.

Step 4-6: Peel off the yellow backing from your silhouette image and stick to the inside of your card. Peel off the front paper from your image to reveal the sticky tape surface.

Step 7: Choose a glitter or flocking agent to use that comes in your Silhouette Double Sided Adhesive Starter Kit. Spread generously over the sticky surface.

Step 8: Use a dry paint brush to gently remove any excess.

 

  

Enjoy your creation and gift it with love!