Isolating the focal point of your image

1 Open any image with a element that needs isolating. Use the magnetic wand tool select your object. Use commands such as modify selection/expand/contract/smooth to finalize your selection. You may want to make copies of the background layer before going any further.

2. Press Control J to take your selection and copy it to its own layer. Return to the background layer by clicking once on it in the layers palette to make it active.

3. Now press ctrl L to bring up the levels option and play until you get the results you are looking for.

   b. Before going any further it may help to create a few copies of the layer with only the object selected. This will allow you to try different styles and effects.

4 It looks ok but it's missing something? Try adding a shadow/outer glow/ inner glow/ beveled edges/ contour or a stroke all these things can be achieved by selecting the layer with only the object selected. Then click on f in the bottom of the layers palette options. This brings up all the layer styles.

Original                                                                                    Inverted background and altered curves                                       Blurred Background

Colored levels                                                                        Gradient map                                                                            Inverted Background

Assignment:

Select one of your images and create 6 new images using filters , color and opacity changes