The original was here:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-699291-1.htmlReposting with the images and instructions together to make it clearer.Hair needs time and patience. There are other ways to select hair and edit it.
This is but one of many ways to work with fur.
SELECTION
(To select the area, there are many tools. The the most accurate is to use the vector pen tool and convert that into a selection. See below, steps 1-6)1.Open the file in PS. Copy the layer then below the copy, add a solid
blue layer*.
2.With top layer active (1) Select Pen Tool
3. Select the area you want to remove
4. Complete the selected area by clicking the first point. A circle will show when you are on it.
5. Click Select
6. A box would pop out. Keep feather radius to 0. click OK
Your area will now be selected as shown by the Marching Ants
Press delete and the
blue layer* will now be visible.
The reason why we made the blue layer is to provide the best contrast and see the changes clearly.
If the fur is blue, use a different color that will provide a good contrast EDITING THE HAIR
(Now that the main element is isolated, we are going to edit the clean edges so that the fur will look natural)Note that the hardness & brush size will determine the length & thickness of the hair. Any extra can be deleted or undo if the initial flick is is incorrect.
This technique will work well with a mouse but having a pen & tablet will make the process easier.7. Select Smudge Tool
8. Select many small dots brush
9. Adjust brush size as needed. Adjust hardness to around 40
10 This is how the brush should look like
This is good for the general group of hairs. Always move the brush in the same direction as the hair would go.11. If you push the brush from the outside, it will create hairs by reduction of the image
12. If you click the edge and brush out, it will create hair by extending (smudged) pixels away from the edge.
13. For single strands, you need to draw them individually. Change to a pointed brush, make it very small and increase harness to 85-90 depending on your need how long to stretch the hair.
14 Start by putting the brush on a hair strand you want to extend. Click and drag
15 you will be able to make hair like this
16. Once finished, you can put this element into any background by adding the new background as a lower layer.
the "Eye" icon is off so this layer does not show
17 Click on the Eye symbol and the layer will be visible 18
As aforementioned, this is just one of many ways to deal with fuzzy edges.
Practice, patience & goodluck!