Looking for some guidance... I have drawn a backdrop, a full 125x250 drawing with no avatar base in it. Now I want to basically erase the avatar area from it. Has anyone done it this way and do you have any suggestions on the easiest way to do it? Also I assume I have to do it twice, once for the male and once for the female avatar?

Yup, you'll need one for female and one for male.

There's a forum around in this area with HA cut out. I use SAI, so I'm not sure how to do it on Photoshop...but you can use the cutout as a clipping group. Trying to find out...where it's at. P:

Photoshop has also the possibility to use clipping mask. Right click on the layer and choose 'create clipping mask' to apply it.

Basically you could use the cut-out premade versions of existing backdrop layers, move your backdrop above this layer and then choose the clipping mask option. Your layer should completely cover the other backdrop cut-out version then!

Thanks. I use an older version of PSP/Animation Shop. PSP does have the clipping capability I need.