Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Starting with CC 2015.5, Photoshop has provided the Select & Mask tool that has made extracting a subject from a complex background relatively easy. Here is a link to a demonstration of the PS Select & Mask tool: http://appnationconference.com/video/yAz9jZJiiTzk Does Affinity Photo have a tool that provides a similar capability as Select & Mask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted October 3, 2017 Staff Share Posted October 3, 2017 Hi Big_Stan, The closest feature you have is the Selection Brush Tool to create a rough selection of the subject then pressing the Refine Selection button in the context toolbar to Refine the selection. You can then output it as a new layer, as a mask, new layer + mask etc. Check this video tutorial - Refining Selections - which describes the whole process. If you want you can also use the Quick Mask functionality while using the Selection Brush Tool to help you create the initial selection. On this video James is using the Paint Bush Tool to manually paint/select the eyes of the owl with Quick Mask but you can also use the Selection Brush Tool with it instead. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchshader Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 https://youtu.be/RXKEqOMK-bo A how to video Quote intel core i5, 16GB 128Gb ssd win10 Pro Huion new 1060plus. philips 272p 2560x1440px on intel HD2500 onboard graphics Razer Tartarus Chroma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 If you had watched the video, you would have seen how they adjusted the opacity to assist the selection process. I know how to use the Affinity Quick Mask tool, however, the Photoshop Select & Mask tool is MUCH easier to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted October 3, 2017 Staff Share Posted October 3, 2017 Hi Big_Stan, With the Quick Mask mode set to Overlay you can also see the rest of the image while you select the parts you are interested in. It's simply a different system. If you are looking for a clone of the Photoshop functionality then no, Affinity Photo does not work the same way but if you spend some time checking the Refine Selection dialog and how it works you can also get similar results. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 Yes, but if I were able to lower the opacity on the "red" overlay mask it would be easier to use. Perhaps I should have been more specific, Is there a way to lower the opacity on the red mask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R C-R Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 2 hours ago, Big_Stan said: Yes, but if I were able to lower the opacity on the "red" overlay mask it would be easier to use. Perhaps I should have been more specific, Is there a way to lower the opacity on the red mask? The red overlay is already partially transparent. Do you want to make it more transparent than that? Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.2 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 Affinity Photo 1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 Exactly. With a lower opacity it will be easier to see the edgers of subject. Right now I select the quick mask, paint, and then switch the mask off to see where I missed or where I over achieved. Having the ability to reduce the opacity of the mask (make it more transparent) is useful when you have a image with a complex background and where the color difference between the subject and the background is not that distinct. In wildlife photography the animals/birds are camouflaged. Everybody loves to show tutorials where the subject and the background are very different, but frequently that is not the case with wildlife. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toltec Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 The technique is to work the other way Instead of working inside the subject and painting out, select too much and paint in. That way it is totally transparent. Quote Windows PCs. Photo and Designer, latest non-beta versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 Yes, but doing it this way I'd have to with back an forth frequently. Oh well, I guess you are all telling me that it is impossible to lower the mask opacity the way it can be done in PS Select & Mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toltec Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 2 hours ago, Big_Stan said: Yes, but doing it this way I'd have to with back an forth frequently. I don't understand. Go back and forth with what ? Quote Windows PCs. Photo and Designer, latest non-beta versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stan Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 Disregard!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahil Ansari Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Yes, affinity photo and affinity designer has a refine tool, which works just like Photoshop's Select & Mask tool. and here is tutorial about it..... : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerFx Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 On 10/3/2017 at 5:56 PM, MEB said: Hi Big_Stan, The closest feature you have is the Selection Brush Tool to create a rough selection of the subject then pressing the Refine Selection button in the context toolbar to Refine the selection. You can then output it as a new layer, as a mask, new layer + mask etc. Check this video tutorial - Refining Selections - which describes the whole process. If you want you can also use the Quick Mask functionality while using the Selection Brush Tool to help you create the initial selection. On this video James is using the Paint Bush Tool to manually paint/select the eyes of the owl with Quick Mask but you can also use the Selection Brush Tool with it instead. Hi Big_Stan or anyone that can help me. I´m new to Affinity (all 3, photo, designer and publisher) one question that comes to mind after trying the refine and the quick mask, is there any suggestions or general rule (rule of the thumb) in which typical images is better to use one or the other? Thanks for any comments. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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