Select more then one element for mask?

[anita1390]

I have 3 elements I want to select, and then knock out the background to dark brown/black. I was going to follow this tut  How to Mask Hair Using Photoshop's New "Select and Mask" Feature - YouTube    but I don't know how I can select/mask 3 objects before applying background change. I'm using PS CC 2017 on Mac.

Thanks in advance!

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Hi

In Select and Mask brush with the Quick Selection tool (top left) to add to a selection and hold Alt key down and brush to take away from a selection.

Do this until you have all the parts you want selected. You can then go on to use the refine edge and paint brushes to adjust the final selection. The principle is the same though - Brush to add , Alt+Brush to take away

Dave

[anita1390]

Thanks Dave!

[davescm]

You're welcome

Dave

[anita1390]

Dave,

I am having trouble getting results, so this is really two questions:

1) Does Select & Mask work better -- or is it essentially the same -- in PS CC 2018? if so I can upgrade from my Mac PS CC 2017.

2) Is there a better tutorial then the one I'm using, How to Mask Hair Using Photoshop's New "Select and Mask" Feature - YouTube  . I don't think I'm using the available tools well enough to get accurate mask selections.

Anita

[davescm]

Hi

Select and Mask has had some tweaks over time - but I can't remember which versions they were in. If you system meets the requirements then you can update CC2017 to CC2018. If you check the options when upgrading you can keep the older version installed alongside the newer version.

Not sure on the best tutorials but the steps I normally take are:

1. Use the quick select tool to get as close as possible.

2. For fine hair/fur use the refine edge tool but keep the brush small and only brush on the hair edges. One of the most common mistakes is to use it on hard edges and to use too large a brush.

3. Use the 3rd normal brush to tidy up any errors

4. Set output to New Layer with mask.

5. Do not check decontaminate colours. It does not work well*

6 Click OK

*To decontaminate colours add a new layer above the masked layer. Set the blending mode of that new layer to "Color". Alt Click on the border between that new layer and the masked layer so that a small arrow appears. This means the new layer is clipped to the masked layer and painting on it will only affect the masked layer.  Get a soft brush and Alt -click on the image near the edge to pick up the colour. Brush onto the new layer edges you may need to pick up new colour (by alt-clicking) as you work around the mask.

Dave

[anita1390]

Yes, I did this too, "One of the most common mistakes is to use it on hard edges and to use too large a brush."

Thanks once again, this is a learning curve for me! Will tackle the image again tomorrow when I have more time.