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ProlepticKupo
Participating Frequently
February 24, 2013
Question

Refine Edge Problem

  • February 24, 2013
  • 14 replies
  • 34541 views

After doing some google searches, I've decided to bring the question a new. 

I am using Adobe CS5 on Windows Vista (32-bit). 

My refine edge tool has stopped working properly.  Rather than refining my edge selection, it sort of blends my selection into transparency, making the final product look extremely sloppy (the point to be made here is that the tool does not funciton as it does on tutorials and examples).   

I have already tried:

1.) Setting up a new user account on my computer

2.) Resetting tool presets

3.) installing updates

The problem remains.  Any wisdom on this issue?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    14 replies

    Show previous replies
    KareemA59655662
    KareemA59655662
    Participant
    June 10, 2015

    ‌I have had the same problem , and i read all this conversations , Finally has anybody reached a solution

    M
    Miri19
    Participant
    November 18, 2014

    I have the exact same problem with Photoshop CC. I KNOW there must be something wrong with the settings, because I did refine edge on a picture this morning and it worked perfectly. But then, I tried it on a different picture and it did not work anymore. So I went back to trying it on the old picture and it did NOT work on this anymore either. So, its not a problem of using it right. Something must have happend to the settings.

    My question: I´m still using the test Version and have 25 days left. If I uninstall PS and reinstall, will I be able to continue the trial or not?

    bugsy46
    bugsy46
    Participant
    November 18, 2014

    Same here. CS6 retail for Windows. Refine edge turns the selection into a low opacity grey mess. Guess it's back to channels. To be honest, I always thought the refine radius tool was the most over hyped feature when it hit CS5.

    Spanners80
    Spanners80
    Participating Frequently
    May 7, 2014

    Uncheck the "Show Original" box up the top of the Refine Edge dialogue box.

    net_ranger
    net_ranger
    Participant
    May 20, 2014

    I'm experiencing a similar problem on photoshop cc, the "show original" box is unchecked and so far adobe has been unhelpful.  Do you have any other suggestions?

    Spanners80
    Spanners80
    Participating Frequently
    July 4, 2014

    Send us a screen shot/s of your settings.

    C
    charles badland
    Inspiring
    February 25, 2013

    Hello,

    My refine edge tool has stopped working properly.

    So it used to work properly and now it does not?

    Can you post some examples (including the refine edge dialog)

    And are you using the RE brush too? Is that working as expected?

    Refine Edge is a pretty intelligent tool,  but in the end it is just making educated guesses. Some images works better than others with it. Adobe and others tend to use the images that work best in tutorials.

    P
    ProlepticKupoAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 25, 2013

    Thank you for the response. 

    Yes, the tool worked better at first (or at least it seemed to me to be the case).

    Here are screen shots of picture that show the issue.  I should have been clearer in my earlier post.  It is the Refine Radius that seems to be the issue.

    First, the original selection:

    Second, refine radius with no other adjustments in the dialogue box:

    Note the transparency and the addition of outer elements.

    Now, if I adjust contrast and shift edge, I can get better results, but still problematic:

    The edge is generally much better, but problematic around the face. 

    C
    charles badland
    Inspiring
    February 25, 2013

    Thanks for posting examples. It really helps a lot.

    It looks like you are using too large of Refine Radius brush. And edge detection is set to zero.

    Try adjusting edge detection first, then use Refine Radius brush on areas that need more/less transition.

    In the case of the turtle head, I think you want a pretty small radius brush.

    If you check "show radius" you can see how much area Photoshop is looking at to transition in the mask.

    Hair (which... I don't think turtle have any of) may need a large radius. But skin or hard edges need a small radius for transition.

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