Apply the gaussian blur filter

510	Book VI �Chapter 3: Getting Exact with Advanced Masking Techniques

7.

	image need to be accentuated,
	you can apply a High Pass filter


		as you can. This is where patience
	High Pass turns your overall image

paint on the mask and you want to refer to the color image, simply click the composite channel (either RGB or CMYK depending on your image) at

8.	Refine the mask by selecting the
	Refine the mask by selecting the	click the mask channel again to return
		click the mask channel again to return


		view both the mask and the composite
9.	The Block Eraser is a great tool for	simultaneously. Your mask appears as
	cleaning up masks. It allows you to
	paint inside the mask without creating
	paint inside the mask without creating	Your mask is refined and ready to go.
		Your mask is refined and ready to go.
		Click the first icon on the left at the
		Click the first icon on the left at the

	Remember the Eraser tool paints	load the mask as a selection (or


	before you drag. Press X to switch	A selection marquee appears around
	the foreground and background	A selection marquee appears around
	the foreground and background

If you want to soften the edge a little, you can choose Select➪Feather and enter a value somewhere between .5 pixel (for a low-resolution image) to 2 pixels (for a high-resolution image). Feathering allows for a softer, natural-

11.	Use the Zoom tool if you need to	13.
	Use the Zoom tool if you need to		masked element and the background.
			masked element and the background.


			Return to the composite image by
	size, so you have to zoom in to paint		Return to the composite image by
	size, so you have to zoom in to paint		clicking the RGB channel (or CMYK
	thinner strokes and zoom out to		clicking the RGB channel (or CMYK

Masking Hair, Fur, and Other Wispy Things

n If you need to invert your selec-
n If you need to invert your selec-		down to a science, but believe me,
		down to a science, but believe me,
		it’s worth your time. Nine times out
		it’s worth your time. Nine times out
		of ten, a channel mask lends a much
ground with a solid color, so I left		better selection than any of the


a color of your choice. Choose		Instead of filling the background with a



click OK.
click OK.		your masked element into the second
Photoshop now replaces the back-		image. A couple of things to keep in
ground with a solid color. Check
the edges to see how clean your

		looks artificial. Take into account the
16.	Make any final edits you need to make.	looks artificial. Take into account the

	whose levels of focus make sense. If you need to soften one of the images, apply the Gaussian Blur filter. If your mask is good, your person should look right at home in his or her new digs.

When you’re happy with your chan-
nel mask, save and close the file.