I see what you're saying. I just hope that Adobe can see that the professionals are in dire need of the old refine edge in order to work efficiently. The ability to jump in and out of refine edge was critical. For me, sometimes I use refine edge up to five or more times for one mask. I am very meticulous and want my masks as realistic and perfect as I can make them. Since this Select and Mask tool is so new, there isn't a whole lot that can be done inside this task tool that refine edge didn't do. It is daunting and frustrating to open S&M and wait for the task tool to load and then wait for it to render my refinements. S&M is no where near ready in its capabilities to make the kind of refinements we need in a few swift adjustments. So, I still need to visit this tool multiple times to locally adjust areas of a mask. I understand that the sheer number of photographers, retouchers, students, and joe schmos at home that use PS have driven Adobe to change their mask refinement tool. Cutting out of objects and people is one of the hardest and probably one of the most common tasks Photoshop is used for. Catering to a large market of users, I can see why Adobe is trying to stream line this. Unfortunately, in doing so, they have gotten rid of an extremely powerful tool. Sometimes less is more. Let the professionals use the tools provided to make our own masks. We are smarter than the algorithm that is ATTEMPTING to make a perfect mask. And for some, S&M does a decent job...but in my industry our clients seek high quality work, perfection. We like having more control and refine edge allows for elevated/timely USER control. KEEP BOTH TOOLS! Also, my continuous rant about the efficiency of refine edge is only half of it. S&M does a terrible job at refining edges. We all have been struggling to understand the algorithm and logic behind the new Edge Detection slider and Smart Radius box. If you check Smart Radius on, Edge detection JUMPS to 10 px and if you adjust for a lower px radius then Smart Radius turns off. I'm sure there is a reason for this, but my understanding is when you check smart radius on, you are allowing the computer to help detect for edges. Why now does it only let you check this on if Edge Detection is set to 10px??? Also, Edge Detection doesn't perform small enough movements, even when smart radius is turned off. The edge detection is too big, even when set to 1px. Here is an example of what a SIMPLE mask looks like with your new S&M tool compared to an example of how Refine Edge worked - both using smart radius.
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