NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Processing & Publication => Topic started by: elsa hoffmann on November 22, 2016, 18:51:54
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One of the most frustrating things - and it's difficult - is to do a selection in Photoshop of hair.
When the Photoshop trainers do it - its sooo easy. when you do it - it's not.
There is no single fail safe recipe that suits every subject - (obviously we dont only battle with cutting out hair)
whenever someone finds another way to do it, you at least have another option to use.
Maybe one method already works for you - but here is another- 19 minutes long
PHLEARN is one of my favourites
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu3zTr6YrQs
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One of my frequently used methods for intricate masks such as hair is to go to the channels tab and duplicate the channel which has the most contrast, apply levels and further enhance the contrast, then click on the 'make channel a selection' button. Once the selection is turned into a mask for what ever layer you are working on you can use the brush tool set to overlay blend mode and brush white or black on the mask itself to remove the grey areas and you are left with a quick and intricate mask. Feather the mask to fine tune the blending of that layer.
This method is largely dependent on a strong color contrast between the subject and the background to be able to separate them using channels. It doesn't work for everything but when it does work it can be very helpful.
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very helpful. bookmarked for later reference
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Charlie - I agree
Frank - if you are like me - I have by now a whole library on selections. I tend to forget half of what I learn though ;D
So I re-visit them often
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I like the Refine Edge tool a lot for this kind of thing. But it's like we need to know 6 different ways to do selections and combine them all for it to work well!!! ;D
Tut: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/selections/cc/2014/improving-focus-area-selections-refine-edge/ (http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/selections/cc/2014/improving-focus-area-selections-refine-edge/)
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The refine tool isnt working so well for me anymore. It's like you say - we have to employ many other ways with that one
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https://www.udemy.com/beauty-retouch/
The above link is a great tutorial, 4 hours of many disciplines.
The footage showing how a brush is affected by different settings and the correct settings to use is invaluable.
If a tutorial can be watched using a dual screen, the tutorial can be paused on one monitor, whilst the pupil carries out a familiarisation of the instructions on the second monitor. A fast track way to gaining a usable editing skills.
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Thank you John - definitely will be watched by me. I am winding down soon when I hope to spend time doing this kind of thing
Edit: Just noticed it's on beauty retouching - Sorry I thought it will be mainly on selections. Still would be interesting - I see they base a lot on frequency separation method
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thanks for sharing the links