Refine Edge hair masking in Photoshop CS5
Photoshop CS5 now offers the ability to successfully make cut-out masks of complex subjects against busy backgrounds. This isn’t something new as there are a number of third-party plug-ins that have been able to do this type of masking, but this is the first time Photoshop has provided an effective, built-in solution. OK, there was the Extract command (which no longer ships with Photoshop), but this method, using the new improved Refine Edge command works much better. Click here to view the movie.
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The main reason why the Refine Edge works as well as it does is down to the new ‘Truer Edge™’ algorithm that is employed in the Edge Detection section. As you can see in the movie, by using a basic quick selection to isolate the subject and using the Radius slider and Smart Radius in the Refine Mask dialog, these steps alone can get you pretty close to achieving a successful cut-out mask. The remaining tools allow you to fine-tune these initial results.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers (Focal Press).
ISBN: 0780240522005
This extract was taken from Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers (where you can access other sample movies about Photoshop CS5). This latest update in the Adobe Photoshop for Photographers series contains 768 pages in full color, plus a DVD containing video tutorials. The book layout has been further improved to make navigation easier and contains updated advice on everything you need to know about using Photoshop, from digital capture to print output, as well as all that is new in Adobe Photoshop CS5.
The title will be stocked in most major bookstores throughout the world and also available to purchase from:
www.focalpress.com as well as through the on-line bookstores: www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk.
The Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers book is expected to start shipping after mid-May 2010.
May 7th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Very helpful article. I will be playing with this later.
May 8th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Very nice tutorial ( as expected from Martin
One small comment :
While using “decontaminate colors” command.
Photoshop defaults for a new layer creation.
From what I understand the reason for this is that decontaminating means PS is manipulating original pixel image (colors) in non reversible way.
So maybe it is a bad Idea to get rid of the original version as a last step.
Just in case you want to change the background later on.
Thanks again for good step through video.
Regards from Stockholm.
May 14th, 2010 at 7:44 am
Thanks for posting the tutorial – it’s good to see CS5 tutorials up already! We’re only just installing it today…
I’ve included your blog in my list of the best 8 photoshop blogs: http://www.siliconbeachtraining.co.uk/blog/best-photoshop-blogs/
Cheers,
Natasha
July 1st, 2010 at 11:54 am
Indeed a nice tutorial and a promising new way to isolate images.
Only, when I follow the same steps, one step doesn’t work the way it is expected.
In the movie, when Martin is painting over the fine strands of hair to refine the mask, we see a green indicator colour, and when the computer finished calculation, that dissapears and the refining is committed.
When I try this, there is no green indicator, but during calculation (after releasing the pen) the correction is visible, but then seems to be undone, and leave me in the state before the correction.
I have the Layer Mask selected. Im on Win XP.
Cheers, Rob
July 1st, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Hi Rob,
You need to have the Refine Mask in the ‘Reveal Layer’ Preview mode in order to see the green overlay when painting with the refine mask edge tool. If you are working with the ‘On Layers’ Preview mode you won’t see the overlay.
Martin
July 6th, 2010 at 3:36 am
Hi Martin,
Thanks for replying. I tried all the view modes (starting with the one you suggested), but still it fails.
Not only is the green overlay missing, it also refuses to add the corrections to the mask: it seems to do its work during painting, I then release the pen, the “busy” indicator rotates for a second, then the just painted-in correction vanishes.
I’m also not able to work on the mask the traditional way; painting black to add to the mask, painting white to subtract from it.
No black or white is added to the mask icon in the Layers Palette.
I temporarily reverted to CS4 for masking, until I find the reason for this behaviour.
Life is a work in progress anyway.
Thanks for the suggestions
Cheers
Rob
July 6th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Hi Rob,
When you edit the mask in the Reveal Layer preview mode it is the case that when you paint using the refine mask edge tool that the green overlay is only temporary and disappears after recalculating the edge. If you hold down the option/alt key you can switch the tool into eraser mode which will allow you to subtract from the mask edge. I suggest you give it a few more tries to get the hang of how the tools respond. I can’t say it will work wonders on every image, but the new refine mask does seem to me to be a significant improvement and very capable of achieving some great results.
Martin
August 29th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
I like it nice tutorial. Thank you for sharing it.