photostephen

The newest version of Photoshop is 2015.5 and the Refine Edge tool has been replaced with the Select and Mask Tool. This update is part of the CC version of Photoshop. (And while I know there are many of you who do not like the CC version, overall I am still very happy to be a monthly subscriber to the CC version.)

I think there is a serious bug with this new Select and Mask tool. When I try to use it on a selection, I start out using the Quick Select brush. So far the selection is reasonable. Does not get the hair and the fuzzy edges, but the main part of the selection is fine.

And then I use the Refine Edge brush and the selection goes nuts. Random areas already selected are just unselected, or worse set to half opacity selected. And random area outside of the selected area are just selected again at half opacity. These random areas are not underneath the refine edge brush, and are often half the image away from where I am using the brush. It almost seems like the refine edge brush is acting like a magic (tragic) wand brush with color as the selecting method.

Is anyone else having problems are well? I researching this I did find a few hints that this may be related to the use of the GPU for processing. Unfortunately this tool is only about a week old, so there are not many comments similar to my experience. Just a few, but enough to tell me that I am not the only one.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Post the sample you are working with as a DNG or a PNG, please.

photostephen

Here is my photo in both DNG and JPG formats. The problem occurs when I brush over the top of the Goats Head with the Refine Edge Brush. (First I quick select most of the Goat).

Attached file:
(Download)


(Download)

photostephen

Now JPG

(Download)

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I have seen the videos about how to use the new refine edge and am having the same problem you are. I use the onion skin and still it does not work Hopefully someone has a cure

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

I don't do a lot of compositing, so seldom use Refine Edge, but I had reason to yesterday. I, too, had some issues with Select and Mask. I eventually got my image to where I wanted it, but it took some doing. I believe Adobe may be using some new algorithms to make this happen, and they need to tweak it. I found that using the red overlay seemed to help. There are some pretty good videos available for using this tool, but I believe the tool needs some more work.

DrCoy Loc: Reidsville, NC

I called Adobe and they said that you should turn of "use graphics processor" under preference>preference. After I did that I have had zero trouble with the "Select and Mask" tool. Hope this helps.

karelowe Loc: Boise, Idaho, & Mesa, AZ

I also had these issues yesterday. I had watched tutorials and thought I could handle it fine, but it was a disaster. Plus, my shortcuts would not work (like Command D for deselect, left and right bracket keys for enlarging the brushes, etc) Also, my keyboard would shut down and I could not type, even in google, etc. Mouse worked fine but not keyboard without rebooting my whole computer. I finally uninstalled CC 2015.5 and went back to CC 2015 and everything was normal again.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

The main problem I see in this specific image is that the depth of field is too narrow and the only really defined area (focus) is shallow. That will influence greatly the refine edge results.

Trabor

Well thats not very nice of Adobe, I was having trouble with "select and mask" turned off "Graphics processor" and all was better except lost scrubby zoom along with other GPU functions , lost graphics processor functions in ACR also (after ACR crashed my computer)

So we update and without warning lose some important functions, does this apply to any GPU or just some? do I need to get a new GPU?

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Can someone list all the GPU functions?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

The only way to upgrade a GPU is to upgrade the video card so... NOT a good idea (unless you were planning to already).

GPU mostly acts as a mathematical co-processor, similar to the 87/387/487 chip we sometime added onto motherboards.

After a short search here are the 'features' enhanced by the GPU.

Something not to miss on the page:

as well as:

Now, that can be interpreted as: If you do not upgrade, well, go drink a screwdriver on us (but you pickup the tab)....

photostephen

Thanks for the suggestions. I have now tried turning off the GPU and tried to use the Red Overlay.

And while a little better, still significantly inferior to the old Refine L=Mask tool. If it was 100% worse before,it is not only 90% worse. Still a flunking grade in my opinion.

I hope Adobe puts out a patch soon to fix this very broken new tool. Or at least allow us to use the old Refine Edge tool while they do some significant debugging and fixing of this new tool.

photostephen

Another update. Turning off the GPU did NOT fix my problem. Same bad results as before.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Just curious, what flavor GPU are you using?