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ommadawn13
Inspiring
March 3, 2023
Answered

Feathering A Pen Tool Selection

  • March 3, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 5625 views

I use the pen tool quite a lot and am looking for a faster way to feather the selections it makes.

I usually right click and use that menu, but was wondering if it can be done quicker.

(I know using command + enter (on the mac) will make a selection, but this has no feathering.)

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kevin Stohlmeyer

Thanks - I made an action to perform this (although my mac won't let me get away with using just one key.)


Hi @ommadawn13 you could assign a keyboard shortcut to this as long as it doesn't conflict with an existing one. Check edit>keyboard shortcuts to resolve.

3 replies

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 3, 2023

Do you usually convert your path selections to masks? If that’s how you work, you can simply adjust the Feather option in the Properties panel when a mask is selected. This is nondestructive feathering, so you can change it at any time. What’s shown below is the simplest possible scenario where it isn’t even necessary to convert the path to a selection because the path itself becomes a vector mask. If you use path selections this way, then not only can you edit the Feather value at any time in the Properties panel, you can also edit the vector mask path at any time. If you don’t like vector masks and prefer layer (pixel) masks, that’s OK, the Properties panel offers the nondestructive Feather option for both kinds of masks.

 

 

But, if you actually do use selections as pure selections and not vector or layer masks, then my suggestion doesn’t help. You can still feather the selections using Select > Modify > Feather or Select > Select and Mask (or their keyboard shortcuts) as already suggested. But unlike the Properties panel, both of those methods require going into a dialog box, and they are not adjustable afterwards.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 3, 2023

    That's another nugget of information I never considered before: you can directly feather a vector mask. And re-editable at that. Why didn't I know that? 😉

     

    Yes, that seems like the most efficient way to do it.

    O
    ommadawn13Author
    Inspiring
    March 3, 2023

    Good suggestions, but an option in the pen tool itself shold be available.

    Like in the marquee tool: enter an amount, hit the keystroke, which would apply it.

    It's there in the right-click menu; is it that hard to have it as one of the tools options?

     

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 3, 2023

    You'll have to convert the path into a selection first anyway, that step can't be bypassed.

     

    I would suggest cmd/ctrl + enter first, then cmd/ctrl + alt + R to bring up the Select and Mask workspace (or any other convenient shortcut you want to remap it to).

     

    It's just as fast and you have direct visual feedback, and you can output directly to a layer mask (or selection). All settings in the Select and Mask workspace are sticky and remain next time you open.

    M
    Community Expert
    mark@headTrixCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 3, 2023

    How about Select>Modify>Feather. I prefer to use the magic wand, or quick selection tool, then feather, then mask....

    and if you use select and mask in options menu   you also have refine edge tool which could feather edge and smooth and feather under global refinements.



    hope that helps!
    Mark

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