Whats the best plugin for masking in PS?

[santoro80]

I heard about Topaz Remask, Ez Mask, Power Mask... Do you use plugins like this?

[plugsnpixels]

I've got all of these and more; see screenshots and examples here (under "Selections/Masking").

Masking is never a lot of fun. The "best" one will depend on your personal preference and the subject matter you are trying to isolate. Demos should be available for most if not all of these third-party options, so you can try them out and choose your favorite.

[creativeretouch]

I am happy with Mask Pro 4

[mistermonday]

I find that the proper use of the new Refine Edge capabilities in CS5 does as good or better a job than Mask Pro and Topaz ReMask.
Regards, Murray

[creativeretouch]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

I find that the proper use of the new Refine Edge capabilities in CS5 does as good or better a job than Mask Pro and Topaz ReMask.
Regards, Murray

I am still on CS3 so I did not try it yet. Do you think this is better than brush which you can use manually?

[mistermonday]

Refine Edge in CS5 allows you to establish a transition zone and paint with a brush to include or delete areas on either side - just like MaskPro and ReMask. The brush is one of the tools inside the Refine Edge dialog box.
Regards, Murray

[creativeretouch]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Refine Edge in CS5 allows you to establish a transition zone and paint with a brush to include or delete areas on either side - just like MaskPro and ReMask. The brush is one of the tools inside the Refine Edge dialog box.
Regards, Murray

Thanx for your info, Murray

[santoro80]

I dont have PS CS5 yet, but I have to get it. I tried (very quickly) Fluid Mask, Mask Pro and ReMask so far. ReMask is very easy to work with (very intuitive), but I think Mask Pro gives me a better control.
Oh, I just saw the new PS CS5 refine edge command in action on YouTube and it looks amazing, but all masking examples I found was done against a seamless monochromatic backgrounds (white, grey, black). I didnt saw any example of masking with more complicated colorful backgrounds.

[mistermonday]

Originally Posted by santoro80

I didnt saw any example of masking with more complicated colorful backgrounds.

Santoro, the video called Advanced Masking With Photoshop CS5 will show you Refine Edge on a very complicated background. Here is a link:
http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-russell-brown-show/
Regards, Murray

[creativeretouch]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Santoro, the video called Advanced Masking With Photoshop CS5 will show you Refine Edge on a very complicated background. Here is a link:
http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-russell-brown-show/
Regards, Murray

I watched this video and I must say that I still prefer Mask Pro 4. The Brush tool offers you more options to set up and Mask Pro allows you to mask transparent objects like a drop of water with a color inside and apply it to a new background with different color. I prefer precise manual work

[mistermonday]

Creativeretouch, its not shown in any videos I have seen but if you check the Show Radius box, change the View to Overlay and drag the Raduis slider up to some initial visible value, then you can use the brush to paint over the finest hair or detail around the transition area.
Regards, Murray

[creativeretouch]

Yes, I think I understand - you can paint with the brush and Photoshop will calculate it for you. Unfortunately I am not able to try it now.

Here you have a sample video about masking in Mask Pro:

http://www.ononesoftware.com/univers...lt-backgrounds

and more videos here:

http://www.ononesoftware.com/univers...oducts/maskpro

You do not use any automatic functions, you have full manual control over your work.

But as I said, I did not try it ...

[mistermonday]

In CS5 the brushes allow you to control what gets included or not and you can undo and redo. All of the other controls allow you to control edge softness, contrast, expansion, contraction, and color decontamination. I find the integration with the new background as well as all of the other views (Transparency, on white, on black, etc) allow you to better preview the result. Output opens are more flexible (selection, mask, layer + mask, etc) and the ability to go back in and refine the mask once you have clicked OK makes for an efficient work flow.
I have used the 3rd party plugins and standalones but have gravitated almost exclusively to CS5. It just works better for me.
Regards, Murray

[creativeretouch]

I agree, Adobe is integrating all third party plugins inside Photoshop which is good way and only way. But I have paid for those plugins already and I miss only 64-bit processor support and possibility to have better control over brushes. But this is not about this post

[plugsnpixels]

Originally Posted by creativeretouch

I agree, Adobe is integrating all third party plugins inside Photoshop...

Some perhaps, but definitely not all. Might make an interesting comparison chart though!

[santoro80]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Santoro, the video called Advanced Masking With Photoshop CS5 will show you Refine Edge on a very complicated background. Here is a link:
http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-russell-brown-show/
Regards, Murray

That looks great. Thanks for the link!