Hi. In Katrin Eismanns masking and comp... she recommends using the gaussian blur because it has a preview buttom and the feather command has not. But im wondering : then the hole selection is getting blured instead of just the transition wich feathering provides. Is this correct.<is there another filter that can do the feathering on the trasition with preview. Thanks Anna

If it is what I think, you have to blur the mask instead of the layer ;)

Anna, what you do after you make the selection is to hit the Q key to put the image in Quick Mask mode. When you apply Gaussian blur you are actually you are applying it to the mask in Quick Mask, or as Patrick points out if you have a layer mask you will blur it. Now because Gaussian Blur on affects the edges, and the edges are between it and the slection, then only the edges of your selection are feathered.

The two feathering techniques produce the identical results. The feather command is faster if you know how many pixels to feather and you do not need a preview. The Gaussian Blur on a mask takes the guess work away but takes a few seconds longer to do.
Regards, Murray

Hi there

Behind the scenes gaussian blur and feather are the same thing. Photoshop sees selections as black hide and white reveal. The blending of black and white as in a blur is the same as feather. Using quick mask and gaussian blur just allows you to see the edge blur that will be exactly the same as in feather. no difference in the final product.

Butch

ok-thanks very much.

Hi Anna,

I had already been asked this in another occasion so, I'm simply adding snapshots to the great explanation Murray gave .... (hope he doesn't mind... :D )

Anna, what you do after you make the selection... Attachment 1 (0 feather selection)

...is to hit the Q key to put the image in Quick Mask mode.... or click on the 'Edit in Quick Mask Mode' button on your Tools Palette.

Your Quick Mask window will show something like Attachment 2 ... Working on this, use Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur to blur the edge of your quick Mask ...

When you apply Gaussian blur you are actually you are applying it to the mask in Quick Mask, or as Patrick points out if you have a layer mask you will blur it. Now because Gaussian Blur on affects the edges, and the edges are between it and the slection, then only the edges of your selection are feathered.Attachment 3

When you think the blurring is good enough, simply hit the Q key, or click on the 'Edit in Quick Mask Mode' button on your Tools Palette again to exit the Quick Mask Mode and go back to your 'marching ants'... After this, either create a Layer Mask for your selection, or press Ctrl+J to copy your selection to a new Layer ...

This method is great and gives you control over the blurring which you don't have with 'feathering' a selection, but, still, you can't see the actual changes on your selection as you are blurring the edges... If you want to see it happen 'real time' and have full control over the blurring, like Patrick suggested, then:

* create a new blank Layer between Background and the 'selection' layer and fill this new Layer with a colour of your choice...

* click on (activate) your 'selection Layer (the top one) and, after making your selection, click on the 'Add Layer Mask' button at the bottom of your Layers' Palette to create a Layer mask with your selection..

* It shouldn't be necessary, but just to be safe, click on the just created Layer Mask to activate it and be sure you are working on the mask and not on the Layer...

* Use the Gaussian Blur as explained before .... and while moving the Radius Slider, see in 'real time' how the edges of your selection soften against the colour filled Layer underneath ...

Attachment 4 shows the difference between unblurred and blurred Mask ....

Attachment 5 shows the final results of my selections against the new colour filled Layer

P.S. .... Great car!!!! :thumbsup: :wink: