Select Subject, Select & Mask operation

[FauxtoGuy]

I have experimented with the new Select Subject option and worked extensively with the Select & Mask tools.

Selecting a flying beach ball in a blue sky is easy enough, but these tools seem to require such contrasting tonal values that most real life selections still fall short. But maybe I just haven't mastered the tools yet.

I still rely most heavily on a combination of contrast masks, pen tool paths, magic wand, and whatever works best for complex subjects. When creating masks for human hair or anima fur, I use custom brushes, and often re-create flyaway or longer wispy hairs. I get excellent results, but it is painstaking.

The refine Edge tool never seems quite as "Smart" as I hope it will be.

I have a stock image of a very furry Bison which has already been masked (carefully) but saved as a single layer JPG on a white BG. Select Subject did a poo job 0n this, and refine mask til have a hard time-even against the white BG.

Any tricks or suggestions on getting better silo's of hair/fur detailed for highly print work? (or should I just stick to finessing details by hand?)

Thanks

[Randy Hufford]

check out Colin's tutorials. I found really helpful. https://photoshopcafe.com/?s=making+selections

[Marja de Klerk]

With the improved select and mask option in CC 2018 it is possible to get a goed result very quickly.  Check out this tutorial: Improved Select and Mask | Photoshop CC 2018 - YouTube 

Of course you can always finish details by hand, but in my experience this is a good start!

[magical_Skyline0D4A]

Too funny

[magical_Skyline0D4A]

Hi,

There are several Blogs of Photo Retouching Academy and this topic always appears but the answer from the greatest professionals is always the same!

It all depends on what you want to achieve and if there are several tutorials for fun about it, but if it's professional photo editing you're talking about then there are no automatisms.

It takes time, requires to be finished by hand and requires the right price to be paid.

[Terri Stevens · Accepted solution]

it seems to me you are using all the techniques that real professionals use, channels, calculations, apply image, pen, custom brushes. Once anyone has had any level of success using these techniques the automated tools like 'select and mask' and select subject will always disappoint as they are compromises to avoid the need for an in depth knowledge of masking. Don't get me wrong they are clever and a quantum improvement on selection tools a decade ago, but it will be a long time before these tools will cut out a furry animal from a non homogeneous , blurry background. If you charge for your services you will always command a premium with your current methodology, so stick with what you are doing and put quality ahead of time.