Cut Out Player Faces Megapack

Our Cut-Out Faces Megapack is the biggest collection of Football Manager Player Faces available. All players are available in the default cut-out style. When you download our Cut-Out Faces Megapack, you'll receive over 450,000 player faces to spice up your copy of Football Manager.

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  • 2024.06 - Released on 17 Mar 2024
Cut Out Player Faces Megapack

mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
If you are starting out learning how to cut, but want feedback on your attempts - this is the place to do so!

We recommend using Adobe Photoshop to cut images with. It is available for free as a trial copy which expires after a short while. Photopea.com offers a free web-based tool which is extremely similar to Photoshop, has practically all the functions and the same shortcuts etc.

We also strongly recommend using remove.bg to get an initial draft cut from sources. It is also free, very easy to use and there is a tutorial further below in this post.



Video tutorials on how to use remove.bg can be found here, here and here (using the free online tool photopea.com instead of Photoshop).


Guidelines for cutters

Size:
If the source is large enough and at a high resolution, the cut should be produced in 250x250. Otherwise the cut should be in 180x180. If, when cut, the source is not already 250x250 (or close), it is ideally downsized, since upsizing a cut leads to a loss of sharpness.

Using an AI image enlarger is to be avoided. Such tool just “guess” what certain pixels should look like when you make the image larger, and the result looks blurry/out of focus on certain details, with unrealistically smoothened skin, and unnatural looking hair/beard/eye/teeth details.


Snow:
Care should be taken to avoid snow on cuts as much as possible. This short and easy-to-understand video shows a good method of how to quickly spot and clean snow. Apart from snow in the edges of the cut as displayed in this video, some cuts include loose pixels detached from the head, especially around the chin and ears. Special care should be taken to remove these pixels if they are not part of the cut as they are very evident in-game on a dark skin.

Here's a more recent video of the process:
https://streamable.com/bq3kjs


Position of face:
The focus of the cut should be the face. The ideal cut has the face in the middle, with an equal amount of distance on both sides between the ears and the side of the cut. The face should also be straight-on, rather than slanting or at angle; i.e. the eyes are ideally in a straight line and parallel to the top or bottom of the cut. Finally, space above and beyond the face should be minimized. There should only be 2-3 pixels between the top of the head/hair and the top of the canvas, and the same distance between the bottom of the chin/beard and the bottom of the canvas.

Here's a video of the above processes:
https://streamable.com/k3tbjz

If the person has long hair, it might be better if the image isn't cropped at the chin but at the bottom of the hair or at shoulder-height, whichever is the higher.

If the person has big, wide hair (e.g. Valderrama), it is better if the hair is not cropped out, even if this means that the 2-3 pixels rule is not followed. In cases like this, there should be an equal amount of empty space above the hair as there is space beneath the chin, in order that the face is at the centre of the canvas and the whole hair is included in the cut.


Collar:
Care should be taken to avoid the chicken-neck effect and so all cuts should include a little bit of collar. At the same time, the ideal cut only contains 2-3 pixels beneath the chin. Since in some sources, the person in the image may have a longer neck than usual, this would be quite difficult to achieve naturally. This video & this post & this post too display a simple technique of how to cut close to the chin and still display a bit of the collar.

And here's a video of the process:
https://streamable.com/yvx80y


How best to use remove.bg


Video tutorials of the below can be found here, here and here (using the free online tool photopea.com instead of Photoshop).

a) Download the source image onto your PC. I'm using this as an example:
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xmIV8K3zzSBWd3C3eMNVWCf1ewXds0h63wnxm0e5.jpg
b) Crop it to contain the face and a little bit either side of it: https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/vSZZQzmC4OTUlSq92G3CoZVpWBbLIIKk4WY9iP3E.jpg
c) Put it through remove.bg - this is the result: https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/JtUxaYwPe3GjsmJEP2LVLrVGH3zrhTl0qnQxhPdv.png
d) Open the ensuing cut in Photoshop
e) Change the transparency preferences from the below section (it may not be exactly the same in CS2 but it will probably be somewhere similar): https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/R0G99GNrfMqlWkpwVMKOVv4mr7IFJvCp1p36lpSV.png
f) Change them in this manner (this will allow you to spot snow much quicker): https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Vtve93LBFBNQEnQ74cdQwQ3gcAvema9b3ClFeIDv.png
h) Press "Z" on your keyboard to get the zoom tool, then select fit screen to get the cut as large as possible in order to allow you to get as close to the edges as possible https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/fGDi9VQdgcIcgcHlW3I8qFBkMVRkG1i0lX719WxB.png
g) To crop the cut, use the rectangular marquee tool by either clicking on this icon: https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/NrmHBCmySq3xIbs2uVyRtrDqsbncZvxu1cY6XAAs.png or by pressing "M" on your keyboard. Top tip: if you keep the shift button on your keyboard pressed when you are selecting the area, the area chosen will be a perfect square 🙂

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/WdDazANjn4EYm3rrFh5opwNCO8uYUHGH0tmZQeJv.png

As you can see, I only left a very small area beneath the chin and also above the head. However, the area from the ears to the edge of the cut is not exactly the same on both sides, so I like to make sure it is roughly identical on both sides. Pressing the arrows on your keyboard at this point moves the square accordingly, so in this case I moved it to the right. You can either do it by sight or by calculating the amounts of squares on either side:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/C9L69IS5EO0Hy1ffTyr2JnWs5ns3unoQuE9Q1mGK.png

It doesn't have to be 100% exact, naturally 😉
h) At this point, you're ready to crop the cut
i) After it's cropped, go to image > image size to downsize the cut to 250x250 or 180x180
j) In this case, I've deliberately made a mistake: https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/zGnneXQQqxf0bbSVghsctN52leIyrBRnunvZjrN8.png
k) To solve this issue, we should go to image > canvas size and change the width to be the same size as the height and for the canvas therefore to become a square: https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/SgeTDm1Ga1jFEQgtOHjomcgDqkCnHuk4ZTpFShPy.png
l) Once this is done, you can go to image > image size and change the size to 250x250 https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ZVvV3TtcsXvPIc7Bdzkb3MhFeuAcY85w61Q9F718.png
m) Make sure that the scale styles and constrain proportions boxes are both ticked, as changing image width or height could mean that the image gets stretched and doesn't retain the correct proportions (as happened above).

That should be that 🙂


Other tutorial videos

How to remove excess green lighting on a face:
https://streamable.com/1usnxt

How to improve a cut if the source image is washed out:
https://streamable.com/acnxgh

How to add fake collars:
https://streamable.com/pzm4vr



Tutorials
These are videos on the most common techniques used to cut out images:
YouTube Refine Edge Video Tutorial for CS5
Posts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of a series by pacouk with easily-explained images on how you go from a source image to a cut-out using the Refine Edge technique

A 5-minute YouTube tutorial by Swedie on how to quickly and effectively cut good sources on a clear background and without too many hair details using Photoshop CC 2015.

How to get a quick cut-out of an FM image using Vertus on CS5
Not a video tutorial, but this post includes clear instructions on how to use Vertus within CS5 to cut images.
Some other tutorials on how to use Vertus and improve your techniques
A post on how to rotate images in PS CS2

Another post showing how you can fix excessive lighting on cuts by krissmed here
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
Photoshop Add-Ons
Image Adjustments Action (for fixing colours) by mons - free
Transparency Change Action for all versions (ESSENTIAL) - free

Photopea Add-Ons
Basic actions, brightness, contrast etc.

Some other guides
Extraction Tool in CS4
Transparency Change for CS4
Burn Tool - Darken light Edges
A guide on how to extract the default FM22 SI images and how to get them in the same format as the images in the megapack


Cut-Out Software:
Adobe Photoshop CS5: PC and Mac - Free Trial Available
Adobe Photoshop Elements (PC/Mac) Free Trial Available

GIMP:
GIMP - free image editing software (PC/Mac)
Cut-Out Tutorial

Other stuff related to cutting:

Config File Software
fmXML (PC) - Config file creator
fmXML (Mac) - Config file creator
Using fmXML to create a Config file - Tutorial Video for creating a config

A website which resizes images that are too small to get decent cuts from into larger and higher-quality versions

Object Fix Zip (PC) - fix corrupted Zip/RAR files
A guide on how to extract SI's in-game images
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
I don't know what people are finding so hard, it doesn't even need a tutorial.

Open image with vertus in PS.

After auto-detect has finished, select delete local brush and with these images click just once on the background.

Image>auto fill image.

Untick show object edges to make it easier to find the left over bg.

Select blend exact brush and achange to appropiate size.

Zoom in and brush the left over bg and strands of hair that have passed through the edge.

Preview cut out and create cut-out button to check what it looks like and go back over certain bits with the blend exact brush if needed.

Save and Apply.

Stop online stopwatch at 22.975 seconds.

Clone stamp.

History brush the ears/neck and erase any leftover bg around those bits. I personally history brush the entire neck, jaw and shoulder area and cut with the pen tool regardless of how good the extract is (which is one of the reasons I stopped using refine edge), I guess I'm just fussy that way. so add another minute for all that.
Baja
14 years ago
5 days ago
35,837
Mons,this is the best I could get from that source,but not sure if it's good enough
http://www.dodaj.rs/f/3f/Kq/1WnB7egy/62013415.png
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
Looks better scaled down. I assume that's the correct UID?
Baja
14 years ago
5 days ago
35,837
Yes mate,since MP picture is more than 5 years old,and looks very bad on dark background,should I post it in improvement thread,or you could check,and just drop it in next update
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
By BajaHater | Permalink | On 30 September 2012 - 18:57 PM
Yes mate,since MP picture is more than 5 years old,and looks very bad on dark background,should I post it in improvement thread,or you could check,and just drop it in next update

No need now that it's in here already
simdy7
11 years ago
3 months ago
11
I HAVE ADOBE PS CS BUT I COULDN'T FOLLOW HIS TUTORIAL SO I WAS WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO POST A VIDEO TUTORIAL ON HERE????
Mullen18
14 years ago
7 years ago
311
By mons | Permalink | On 26 September 2012 - 19:36 PM
Practical Guide to Refine Edge in CS5, including video tutorial on images, by Yallii
tv_capper
16 years ago
6 hours ago
13,287
Hi guys,
Looking for some constructive feedback for my latest attempt please (I am using Photoshop CS5)
Cut:http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p527/tv_capper/pavicevic-5768259.png
(I have used an image from the missing Images thread so that if the cut is of a high enough standard the image can be used straight away)
jumberto
16 years ago
1 week ago
1,111
Viewed on a dark background it has a jaggedy white edge all the way around.

Also it should be cropped closer so the shoulders are not squared off and it also needs straightening (That's not to do with your cut though)
ovidiu10
17 years ago
3 days ago
13,132
Premium
tv_capper, take a look on this video tutorial (Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 + Vertus Fluid Mask 3)

bafana17
13 years ago
11 years ago
5
Tried my hand at cutting a couple of pic's, using gimp though...

what do you guys think? need a bit of work i know...

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/peanuts40/65025048.png

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/peanuts40/Untitled-1.png

Is Adobe a lot better than Gimp?
tuodi8shi
12 years ago
2 months ago
6,001
First tryout
http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o739/tuodi8shi/23053134.png

How can I make the edges smoother?
bakizp
17 years ago
9 hours ago
19,701
Once again I'm posting link to video tutorials for Vertus Fluid Mask plugin
TUTORIALS
Also,read THIS if you have problem when plugin can't find edges in some cases (white background and white collar,etc.)
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
okay, here's my first try, I'm trying problems with white edges, so if someone can please provide any feedback on how to improve that or a link to a tutorial on how to fix that, it would be nice.
here's the original
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8622/309441.jpg

and my cut-out version:
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/7394/309441.png
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
What program are you using and what technique?

It's not too bad but there's a very distinct black line on the edges and a bit of snow beyond that. As the source image is big enough, we recommend keeping the area above the top of the head and below the chin to a minimum.
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
I'm using photoshop, and was trying to remove the white edges with the cloning instructions on the link "Remove "Snow" from a cut out", but yes, I didn't get a good result, I can also try Gimp if is easier
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
here's a second try
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7394/309441.png
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
The face size is better now, but there is still the black line round the edges and a smidgen of snow. Try viewing it zoomed in and on a transparent background, and you'll see what I mean...
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
I didn't add the line this time, I think is just the shadow of his beard and short cropped hair, what's the best technique to get rid of the snow?
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
ok, third try, I used an eraser + clone technique, that I found somewhere in the forum to get rid of the snow, the black outline was in the original photo, so that's outside my current skills to edit, so I'm not sure if is of a good enough standard for the pack
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7394/309441.png
rtsrobintje
14 years ago
3 years ago
0
Maybe you should try to find a better quality image mate

Try this one (yes it's old but it's a good one to practice on !)

CLick !
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
well.. here's my first try at Messi
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1042/lionelmessi26.png
Maybe I just need to improve my PS-fu before trying cutouts
rtsrobintje
14 years ago
3 years ago
0
By advalencia | Permalink | On 27 December 2012 - 16:47 PM
well.. here's my first try at Messi
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1042/lionelmessi26.png
Maybe I just need to improve my PS-fu before trying cutouts


This is a very good try, if you produce facepacks like this you can help cutting very soon
I'm only wondering what kind of technique you use, because it doesn't look like it has been refine edged.
advalencia
12 years ago
1 year ago
38
By rtsrobintje | Permalink | On 27 December 2012 - 17:41 PM
This is a very good try, if you produce facepacks like this you can help cutting very soon
I'm only wondering what kind of technique you use, because it doesn't look like it has been refine edged.

Thank you, I tried the refine edge at first but it was leaving a lot of noise, so I used the background eraser and then burnt the edges a little to remove the remaining snow, what else can I do to improve the result?
garyh
16 years ago
4 years ago
322
By advalencia | Permalink | On 27 December 2012 - 17:55 PM
Thank you, I tried the refine edge at first but it was leaving a lot of noise, so I used the background eraser and then burnt the edges a little to remove the remaining snow, what else can I do to improve the result?


Use the burn tool sparingly mate, better to have locked the pixel's and use the clone stamp tool there's a tutorial on how to do this, Watch me
Rowan
16 years ago
2 weeks ago
1,970
FYI - for those (like me) who can't get used to Refine Edge and prefer Adobe's ExtractPlus....I found someone who is still selling legit copies of Photoshop CS4 at a very decent price... HERE just £43

You can then install ExtractPlus from Adobe's site.
FuriousP
14 years ago
11 years ago
3
Because he'll be added to the editor in the January update I tried cutting him.

http://s2.postimage.org/qmxn466kl/Beane.png

I don't think it's a good start and I can't refine the edges at all, his hair annoying. But here's my first go at a cut. What do you guys think?
mons
17 years ago
14 hours ago
85,497
Have you viewed the Refine Edge tutorial from the OP?

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