Does the select and mask feature, actually work for anybody out there?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
April 12, 2018
3 replies
892 views

Do you have the same problem that I have? Does the select and mask feature really work. When I open an image into select and mask, make my selection, and I use the refine edge brush around problem areas like hair. It does not do the same type of job that I see in any instructional video. If anybody can help me with this, I would be very pleased. Thank you.

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Correct answer Trevor.Dennis

I wouldn't call its results a 'clean' selection. What I do is turn on Smart radius and set the radius to 1, and only use the refine edge brush on soft edges like Hair. I stay well away from other edges, because I know they'll turn to custard. Set the output to new layer with layer mask, and use other tools to clean up the mask.

The Shift click trick with the brush tool is useful for straight edges, and I tend to drag our an elliptical selection to help with curved edges. keep moving the selection into place so you can use the brush tool in the layer mask. Good hard edges are best done with clippings masks. Then join the various mask segments into one.

If there was one bit of advice I'd give, it is not to be too obsessive with the mask. It needs to be _just_ good enough for the end use and underlying layers. This is a discipline I've had to force on myself, because you can waste an awful lot of time fine tuning masks way beyond what anyone is going to notice.

If you are doing this professionally, and do it often, you could consider using a clipping mask service out of places like India. I have feeling this could be very cost effective.

davescm

Community Expert

It works for me - but may not be the best approach for every image.

Please show the image you are wanting to mask (full resolution not a tiny compressed jpeg) along with the image you want to composite onto. The second image is important as it affects the approach to edge decontamination.

Dave

G

glennv50787424Author

Participating Frequently

Thank you for helping me with this. No matter what image that I use, I can not get a clean cut out from the background to composite the image into another background, using select and mask. There is always fringing around the edges that I have to spend an enormous amount of time cloning in the area, or by using another tool to correct it. I have watched countless hours of every tutorial out there to remove the background, but I have yet to find a video that actually works. I watched a Scott Kelby video, where he is practically having an orgasm as to how this tool works for him, but he doesn’t show his cut out against a different background. I will attach an image for you. I just want to use any other color of background, but I can’t get a clean enough cut out around the woman's hair to have it look nice. This select and mask tool gives me fits.

Trevor.Dennis

Correct answer

Community Expert

I wouldn't call its results a 'clean' selection. What I do is turn on Smart radius and set the radius to 1, and only use the refine edge brush on soft edges like Hair. I stay well away from other edges, because I know they'll turn to custard. Set the output to new layer with layer mask, and use other tools to clean up the mask.

The Shift click trick with the brush tool is useful for straight edges, and I tend to drag our an elliptical selection to help with curved edges. keep moving the selection into place so you can use the brush tool in the layer mask. Good hard edges are best done with clippings masks. Then join the various mask segments into one.

If there was one bit of advice I'd give, it is not to be too obsessive with the mask. It needs to be _just_ good enough for the end use and underlying layers. This is a discipline I've had to force on myself, because you can waste an awful lot of time fine tuning masks way beyond what anyone is going to notice.

If you are doing this professionally, and do it often, you could consider using a clipping mask service out of places like India. I have feeling this could be very cost effective.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Can you provide an image and a screenshot of the disappointing result you achieve with the feature including the pertinent dialog and Panels?

Naturally the quality of the result depends on the source material so it would be helpful to see what you are working with.

G

glennv50787424Author

Participating Frequently

This is one of the images that I am trying to extract the subjects from the background, and put on a white or a different colored background. The difficulty that I am having is, trying to get a clean cut out of removing the woman's hair from the background. If anyone would like the challenge of trying this, and could help me out with a good way to approach this, I would be very happy. Thank you.

davescm

Community Expert

Hi

I did the following

1. You said white background so I put a white layer underneath. The point made well by Trevor - make the mask good enough for the intended background, no more.
2. In select and mask used Select subject

3. Changed to the refine edge brush and painted around the hair edges. The brush I used was 16 pixels, 100% hardness, 1% spacing , smart radius off and 0px radius

By pressing J (Show Edge) I can see where I've asked refine edge to work