What's Good for Selection?
Jan 23, 2019 10:10:07 #
I've tried several progs for selection; the first was Photoshop CS6 (incl Refine Edge); the latest is Fluid Mask, which is an entirely different animal.
For me, selecting parts of images can range in difficulty from easy to impossible. The easy ones arrive when the well-lit, well groomed subject stands against a green or white screen. The impossible ones, for example, involve subjects, human or animal, with flyaway hair or fur, standing against "busy" backgrounds that are just about the same color and value as the subjects themselves. I'm not a studio photographer, so my selections usually involve the latter.
I'm about ready to give up on Fluid Mask, which I've found difficult to learn, hard to apply, and not much better (in my hands) than PS CS6.
I'm willing to try another app, and I'd be grateful for any advice.
Regards and Happy New Year!
For me, selecting parts of images can range in difficulty from easy to impossible. The easy ones arrive when the well-lit, well groomed subject stands against a green or white screen. The impossible ones, for example, involve subjects, human or animal, with flyaway hair or fur, standing against "busy" backgrounds that are just about the same color and value as the subjects themselves. I'm not a studio photographer, so my selections usually involve the latter.
I'm about ready to give up on Fluid Mask, which I've found difficult to learn, hard to apply, and not much better (in my hands) than PS CS6.
I'm willing to try another app, and I'd be grateful for any advice.
Regards and Happy New Year!
Jan 23, 2019 10:12:58 #
Jess, what is your primary photo editing software?
--Bob
--Bob
JessM wrote:
I've tried several progs for selection; the first ... (show quote)
Jan 23, 2019 10:32:43 #
Yes many selections are difficult to impossible. That being said CS 6 has a number of decent selection tools. The 3 lassos, the magic wand and the quick selection tool. Try different tools for a particular selection to see which works best. Sometimes what works best is to select everything but what you're interested in and then invert the selection.
Jan 23, 2019 10:40:59 #
Bob, I use 2 "primaries:" Lightroom for routine/simple processing, and Photoshop CS6 for the more challenging stuff. I've had both for about 14 years, but I still consider myself a tyro. Thanks.... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 10:45:11 #
PS Elements has several different tools. Following Bob's question, it would be helpful to know what you currently use for the rest of your editing.
Jan 23, 2019 10:59:42 #
mdpathjp, thanks, I've used all those from time-to-time. Also, lately, I've used the pen tool ( plus Channels)-- it's fairly powerful in a steady hand. So far, the biggest problems are flyaway hair and the like.... 73... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 11:35:25 #
Jess, first off, I agree with you on the examples most post on youtube. A blind person could cut out hair photographed on a solid background. I've found the background eraser tool to be most efficient. It's in the eraser flyout. Though, I'm not sure if it's available in CS6.
Here's an example in which I used that tool. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-573508-1.html . The first photo was the 'for real' one. Scroll down to where I did a smart ass reply regarding the background. I will admit to doing that one very quickly.
--Bob
Here's an example in which I used that tool. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-573508-1.html . The first photo was the 'for real' one. Scroll down to where I did a smart ass reply regarding the background. I will admit to doing that one very quickly.
--Bob
JessM wrote:
Bob, I use 2 "primaries:" Lightroom for routine/simple processing, and Photoshop CS6 for the more challenging stuff. I've had both for about 14 years, but I still consider myself a tyro. Thanks.... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 11:42:09 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
PS Elements has several different tools. Following Bob's question, it would be helpful to know what you currently use for the rest of your editing.
Linda, my only editing software, except for the FluidMask trial, are Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom v.5.7 64 bit. I failed to make it clear that PS6 works fine for selecting the main image and its edges, except for the finest extensions of edges, e.g., flyaway hair, especially with deceptive backgrounds. Further, I'm not interested in returning to Elements. What I was hoping for were recommendations of software dedicated to selection, like Fluid Mask, only, hopefully, better. Have you any experience with apps like that? thanks... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 13:42:18 #
JessM wrote:
I've tried several progs for selection; the first ... (show quote)
I did try Fluid Mask for a little while and was not impressed, I find it a lot easier and more precise to use PS for it, to me that's the best program to do that!
Jan 23, 2019 15:01:34 #
JessM wrote:
No, sorry.... Have you any experience with apps like that? thanks... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 16:52:30 #
speters wrote:
I did try Fluid Mask for a little while and was not impressed, I find it a lot easier and more precise to use PS for it, to me that's the best program to do that!
Thanks, speters. I must agree on Fluid Mask, but I'd hoped that there might be a "magic" app out there that I'd not heard of.
Jan 23, 2019 17:02:07 #
rmalarz wrote:
Jess, first off, I agree with you on the examples ... (show quote)
Bob, what I like about your backgrounds is that both look natural enough to be originals, i.e., not composites at all.
BTW, I'll play a bit with the bkgrd eraser;it does exist in PS-CS6. Thanks for mentioning it.
73... ~jess
Jan 23, 2019 19:23:02 #
JessM wrote:
I've tried several progs for selection; the first ... (show quote)
CS6 has extremely primitive selection tools. Photoshop CC is current, and way way better when it comes to selection and refining the selection. But the easiest tools I have seen are in On1 - which provides multiple ways to make selections based on tone, color edges, etc. And the best I have seen when it comes to selecting hair against a busy background.
If all you have used is CS6, you are really missing something.
If you are using Photoshop, an old trick is to use channels to allow contrast to aid in making selections and masks. But that takes commitment to gain the expertise.
Jan 24, 2019 06:44:07 #
Gene51 wrote:
CS6 has extremely primitive selection tools. Photo... (show quote)
Thanks, Gene. I used On One years ago, when it was known by that name. I might try it again. Thanks also for the mention of channels. I've just been reading about selection masks as well -- not enough to be conversant about them, but I hope to remedy that. I'll start here today:
http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=1950633&seqNum=3
73.... ~jess
Jan 24, 2019 09:14:21 #
jsfphotos
Loc: New York, NY
Just wanted to say that I’ve been using On1 for several years now and their PhotoRAW 2019 is a massive improvement on what was there before. It integrates masks and layers so you don’t have to move anything to different programs.
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