Masking hair

[Norris]

I'm sorry yes this is another thread requesting tips on masking hair. I have little experience in beauty retouching and I have been asked to add a blue background onto some portraits taken against a white background. I appreciate this is probabally the easiest masking exercise but I am still failing to get convincing results. I have tried the new refine edge in CS5 but its not completely working for me. It is still picking up areas of white background and also failing to select as much of the finer transitional hairs that I would like. Its about time that I learnt how to do this so if anyone has any expert techniques for this procedure I would be very grateful. Reading previous threads on the subject lends me to think that calculations holds the key as apose to channels and apply image. Please help

Norris

[amica999]

HI there, Norris, have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWem0...e=more_related

[mistermonday]

Norris, in order to determine a method which is most effective for your type of image, it would be best if you post an example here.
Regards, Murray

[Norris]

Hi Murray, I have enclosed a jpeg from the set. This one is probabally the most challenging of the lot as its blonde hair against a white background.

many thanks

Norris

[mistermonday]

Norris, I think a very effective way for this image is to use the Calculations command in PS. In the 1st attachment I used the Blue channel with itself in Linear Burn blend mode. Then used the resulting Alpha channel with itseld in Color Dodge blend. I could also have used the 1st result and painted around the perimeter of the hair with a soft brush set to overlay and filled in the head with black. With calculations there are dozens of combinations you can use that will get you to the same results.
Regards, Murray

[Godmother]

Another way. Hope it works for youwww.nataliataffarel.com/B&WMSKS.jpg

[Norris]

Many thanks. I will try both these techniques and let you know how I get on.

[xiken]

Amica! Loved the youtube link you posted! That's a technique i can use in the near future! Thank you!

[amica999]

Originally Posted by xiken

Amica! Loved the youtube link you posted! That's a technique i can use in the near future! Thank you!

You are welcome

[tarkine]

thnx for the tips

[Norris]

Found you technique very effective Murray in getting a good solid mask. I have struggled a little with refining it in the areas of detailed transition like the whispers of hair at the top. I guess I probabally should be doing something else to the mask after this but its been a huge help. I wasnt aware the black and white adjustment layer could be used in this way so thanks aswell Godmother.

[mistermonday]

Norris, the trick is to not use a 100% opacity brush where those fine hairs meet the background. Use either a soft brush (Black or white) with its blend mode set to Overlay and a 10 or 20% opacity OR the Dodge or Burn tool also set to low opacity to brush over the border where the hair meets the background. You will be better off if that interface is not hard black and white but more of a mid gray. When you apply the cut out to your new background it will have the effect of being feathered at the edge. Then you could use a brush in a darken, lighten, or normal mode to paint over that interface so that it blends perfectly into the background. In some cases using Layer > Matting with a Defringe or Remove White / Black will do the trick. And of course you have the newly improved Select > Refine Edge to help blend it into its new background.
Regards, Murray

[Norris]

Thats an excellent explanation which all makes perfect sense. Thankyou very much Murray

[mistermonday]

All that being said, I have been running some tests with Fluid Mask and Topaz Remask2 and the new Refined Edge in PSCS5. I am finding the best results with CS5 Refine Edge works best. After practicing with it a little more I prefer the interface and the results. Quick results on your image below.
Regards, Murray