For masking Hair...
I know there is a technique where you double up your mask layers and one a little bit larger and you put one on multiply? But I can't seem to get it right? Anybody have an idea or a good way to deal with masking hair?
Thanx

The technique you use will depend a lot on the background. Where there is reasonable contrast, you can get good results using the image itself to generate the mask.

For a description of this technique, Russell Brown does a good video tutorial at his site. www.russellbrown.com Click on Tips & Techniques, then scan down to Advanced Masking.

Hope this helps.

Gary,

Thanks so much for the excellent link. This will keep me busy for hours.

I have a friend who insists on taking pictures in very dense woodlands, which tends to wash out background areas such as sky. I can see where such a masking technique may help sort some of these problems out.

Paris

Hi Paris. The tutorial I linked to does do a good job with trees, but Flora has also posted an excellent tutorial here at RetouchPRO dealing with just this sort of problem. Give it a try as well. http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=120

Sweeeeet :)

Thanks Gary.

I tried Flora's tutorial with better results on wooded areas than I was getting with the Russell Brown's. I did manage to use some of the tips Russell gave to refine the masks I built using Flora's method, thus adding to my repertoire and the quality of the outcome.

Basically I'm in kindergarten here.

Work keeps me from steady Photoshop practice and I find after long periods I even have to reacquaint myself with some of the basics, which is rather frustrating. It's great having a site such as RetouchPRO where I can come and learn, gather new ideas and get help. At least my theoretical understanding of Photoshop is growing. I only wish the same could be said for my practical experience.

Paris

Make a Selective Color adjustment layer...go to White and adjust sliders.
If other white objects were effected (cars, house, etc.), use the mask and paint objects with black brush.