Refine Edge

[clarnibass]

Hi
I have a question about the Refine Edge tool (brush) in Photoshop and Photoshop elements.
I noticed that if you use brush a part that was already selected, it makes it somewhat transparent. It does a great job in parts that weren't already selected before brushing. So in theory you'd need to first select part of what you want, then use the Refine Edge brush basically as close as the pixel next to what you already selected, without overlap. That is obviously unrealistic.
So, is there something I'm missing about using this tool? Is there a way that some overlap won't "damage" the previous selection and make it transparent (I've always had this happen)?
Thanks

 

[BackdoorArts]

Yes, there's something you've missed. Hit the Adobe website and watch some tutorials. The settings in the pop-up are critical to controlling how the brush acts, and I'm nowhere near versed enough to try and explain them because I'm still figuring it out. But it's a great and necessary selection tool and proper use makes all the difference in the world.

 

[WayneF]

Often more useful than Adobe Help, just search Google: http://www.google.com/search?q=photoshop+redefine+edge

 

[clarnibass]

Thanks. I've watched more than a few tutorials from Adobe and many others on Youtube. For example the first one is this REFINE EDGE in Photoshop! Improve Your Selections | IceflowStudios - YouTube and at about 4:15 he paints and then releases, it is obvious how the left most area becomes half transparent. Obviously he didn't need to paint that area but it illustrates the point. In his second (dog) example, he ends up simply adding to the layer mask, at 9:45. What I would like to know is if there's a way for the Refine Edge brush to automatically not work where there was already a selection and only work on parts that are added with it. It is only the overlapping parts that are a problem. P.S for some reason I can't create a new paragraph here, when I press Enter nothing happens, doesn't jump a line, etc. No problem on any other forum.

 

[wornish]

Hi
I have a question about the Refine Edge tool (brush) in Photoshop and Photoshop elements.
I noticed that if you use brush a part that was already selected, it makes it somewhat transparent. It does a great job in parts that weren't already selected before brushing. So in theory you'd need to first select part of what you want, then use the Refine Edge brush basically as close as the pixel next to what you already selected, without overlap. That is obviously unrealistic.
So, is there something I'm missing about using this tool? Is there a way that some overlap won't "damage" the previous selection and make it transparent (I've always had this happen)?
Thanks

Not really sure what you are saying. The fact that the selection appears to go partly transparent is because it is selecting finer detail and deselecting other parts.
If you don't want the finer detail then don't brush over the area you already have selected simple. You can also change the selection brush to remove selected areas if you wish.

Perhaps if you post an example shot showing the original and the selection you are trying to make we can give you more info.

 

[clarnibass]

If you don't want the finer detail then don't brush over the area you already have selected simple. You can also change the selection brush to remove selected areas if you wish.

Sure, not brushing the area already selected and/or removing the brush is the option, but it's only as accurate as you can get. How easy is it to get it perfect i.e. down to the pixel? If they had some kind of "Avoid Selection" checkbox it would work exactly the way I want and I bet it would be very simple to add that feature.

 

[wornish]

You can select by colour at the pixel level but is is very time consuming. We like a challenge on here so share an example that you want to select something from.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Here is an example of using the refine edge. I had my daughter's help in learning this and still need a little more practice. The first on is the full size shot and the second one is a 100% crop showing the building showing up between the hair in the main. The school is the Lion so that is the reason I did this shot. It was in the Year book last year.

 

[clarnibass]

It's not really a matter of a specific example. I found the issue one time but I asked in general. It's already obvious it's possible to use it and it works. Sometimes this problem is pretty much invisble but if there was an option like what I suggested this issue would be gone with no effort at all. For now I was told about a solution, using two layers, with the Refine Edge only on the buttom one.