Select and Mask

Select and Mask

Learn how to use the Select and Mask option to remove backgrounds from photos.

When to use

This is one of the best options to use when you want a fast and accurate method for creating selections around subjects inside of Photoshop.

Instructions

Getting Started

• Begin by opening either of the two pillow photos from the resources folder.
• Press 'W' to switch to the Magic Wand Tool.
• In the toolbar along the top of the interface, you will see a button that says 'Select Subject' with a small downward pointing arrow next to it.
• Click on the small arrow and choose 'Cloud (Detailed results)'.
• Click on the 'Select Subject' button to activate a selection. 

Select and Mask

• Once you have a selection, click on the 'Select and Mask' button to open a new window.
• On the left side of the interface, you will see a small set of tools. 
• Select the second tool from the top called the Refine Edge Brush Tool.
• After selecting the Refine Edge Brush Tool, zoom in and begin brushing over the dark areas between the tassels.
• Continue doing this working your way around all four sides of the pillow to clean up the edges. 
• Experiment with the 'Edge Detection' and specifically the 'Radius' and 'Smart Radius' options to see if it will improve the quality of your selection further.

Output

• Once you're happy with how the preview is looking, click on the menu next to the 'Output To' button on the right side of the interface.
• Change the output from 'Selection' to 'Layer Mask' and then click 'OK' to apply the changes.
• To check the quality of the selection, add a Solid Color Adjustment Layer with a contrasting color and place it below your pillow layer. 

Hints & tips

• Select and Mask is the fastest way to create a selection using Photoshop AI.
• This method works best when trying to quickly isolate subjects with hair and fur, especially when combined with the Refine Edge Brush Tool.