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Can You Key Out a Color in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 12:22 am

As a general rule, no, you cannot key out a color in Photoshop. There are some limited circumstances where you might be able to get away with it, but for the most part it’s not going to work like you expect it to. Here’s a quick rundown of why that is:

1. Keyed colors are usually too saturated.
When you try to key out a color, what you’re really doing is telling Photoshop to remove all pixels that match that color.

But the problem is, most colors that you want to key out are going to be quite saturated. And when you remove all pixels that match a saturated color, you’re usually left with an ugly mess.

2. There’s no such thing as an exact color match.
Even if you find a color that’s similar to the one you want to key out, there’s no guarantee that it will be an exact match. And even a slight mismatch can cause problems when you try to remove the color.

3. You might unintentionally remove other colors.
When you try to key out a color, there’s always the risk that you’ll unintentionally remove other colors as well. This is especially true if the color you’re trying to key out is similar to other colors in the image.

So Can You Key Out a Color in Photoshop?

In most cases, the answer is no. There are some limited circumstances where it might be possible, but for the most part, you’re better off avoiding this technique altogether.

PRO TIP: There is no one definitive answer to this question. Depending on the version of Photoshop you are using and your personal preferences, you may be able to key out a color in Photoshop using the Select Color Range tool, the Magic Wand tool, or the Pen tool. However, it is important to note that none of these methods is guaranteed to work perfectly every time, and you may need to experiment with different techniques before you find the one that works best for you.
Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.