Please HELP regarding the Refine Tool

[Averarham]

Hello, I would like to get an assistance regarding on the Refine Tool, I want to make a 2x2 picture with with background, I started from using the crop tool and make square selection , then after copping the intended image I want to make I selected the selected tool and select the object and click refine, however, I am having a hardtime making the selection smooth eventhough I used the selection brush around it. Please help

[NotMyFault]

Hi Averham,

getting a perfect selection can be hard if your underlaying photo has areas with low contrast, very similar colors, or heavy texture. Refine selection works well in general, but only if you have identical requirements in the complete area.

You photo looks like a prime example for a more complicated situation. I would suggest that you split the mask into two parts:

first the area with the hair, where refine selection works very well.

Create a mask from this selection, and deactivate it in the layer panel, and select the pixel layer again.

To select the lower part, i would suggest wto alternatives:

1. use the freehand selection tool with type "magnetic" activated. This allows to relatively quickly select areas with hard edges. Do not use "refine selection"!
2. use refine selection, but with completely different setttings:
   1. "border width" smaller (e.g. 5%)
   2. "Smooth" to a sutable value e.g. 1-5 pixel
   3. Feather 1-3 pixel
3. select the mask layer, select the brush tool, color 100% white, and paint out the selected area with a large brush.
4. Deselect all, you mask layer with the combined mask is ready for use (activate).

Unfortunately, when you enter "refine", you have only one global set for these parameters, making it impossible to use it in your case in one step, where different settings are required.

Regards,

Timo