How to Cut Out Items in Photoshop with the Pen Tool

Cutting out product images is a big role in a lot of graphics departments.  Cutouts are used in everything from print design to website shots.  You need clean cut lines and you need to keep your files editable.  Using the pen tool is, in my opinion, the best way to handle this in most cases.   This is also a solid way to get better at drawing vectors with the pen tools in Photoshop and Illustrator.  Using the pen tool for your cutouts will teach you to be fast with the pen tool and will help you add subtlety to your lines in the future.