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Mask Flyaway Hair in Moments Using Photoshop
Get up to speed with new masking tools in Photoshop CS5. While easy to use, the results are pro-level in quality.
Written by Russell Brown on September 1, 2010
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This tutorial is courtesy of the Russell Brown Show.
The hardest part about masking has always been selecting areas of transition, such as flyaway hair on a portrait. The new masking tools in Photoshop CS5 are so easy to use that even novices can get impressive results: Just select a subject using the Quick Selection tool, turn that into a mask with one click, hit the Refine Mask buttons, and move two sliders.
However, if you're willing to do just a little manual work, your areas of transition will go from impressive to top-notch professional, as this animation demonstrates:
To open the QuickTime tutorial video in a separate window, click the screenshot below:
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Can't get it to work
I'm in CS5 extended, when I get to the part where it shows how the hair expands when the radius is made larger, nothing happens on my picture. I tried changing the Quick Selection area a bit and still don't get any change even when I max it out to 250 px. Not sure what I'm doing wrong?
Great! As usual, he does a
Great! As usual, he does a very clear, concise demonstration.
It all makes sense now -
It all makes sense now - thanks for explaining the masking tool so clearly. Now I'll be able to use it to it's full potential!
Masking
I must say, I think 'that' is impressive.
Mask Flyaway Hair
Mask Flyaway Hair
Awesome
Awesome. Going to save me hours. I didn't know that the control was there. Thanks for posting.
What about busy backgrounds?
As much as I love flyaway hair tutorials, I have yet to see a tutorial on any website or blog that details how to remove flyaway hair from a busy background. Many designers, albeit ones who work for companies that typically have a small in-house design team, are oftentimes given the task of removing hair from an image with a busy background. When presented with this problem I have found so far, that there is no easy way to get exceptional results. If a newsletter, blog or website would be bold enough to post something along these lines that would indeed be helpful to those who must deal with this.
iPhone/iPad link now working
Sorry about that!
Terri STone
Editor in Chief, CreativePro.com
iphone
clicked on iphone link but got page not found
Masking flyaway hair
Thanks, Dr. Brown! Just what I needed for a job tomorrow! By the way, been following your tutorials since PhotoShop Version 1 ! Gratefully, Tom
Mask on steroids
All I can say is WOW! As a long time PS user, I just learned something new that will make life much easier. Thanks for this short tut!
Mask flyaway hair
Brilliant tutorial very easy to follow and great results from a great teacher and product
Thanks Barry John