Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Keystrokes are for Windows... For lesson with Macintosh keystrokes Click here
Lesson 4 Refining Selection Using Quick Mask
  [Shift+tool] adds to selection; [Alt+tool] subtracts from selection
[While selecting: Hold down "Spacebar" to move the selection… release it to resize the selection] [Ctrl+Z] will revert to last selection
[Double click] any tool to see "Alt" settings
Select the kiwi and refine with Quick Mask:
1. Open "PSPselection.psd" file from lesson 3.
2. Make "Background" layer active
3. Use the "Rectangle Marquee" to select an area slightly larger than the kiwi
4. Create a new layer [Ctrl+J] containing the kiwi
5. Make only this new layer active and visible [Alt+eye]
6. Zoom in by drawing a bounding box around the mushroom with the "Zoom" tool
7. With the "Magic Wand" set at a tolerance of 48, click near the edge of the kiwi
8. Press "Q" to enter Quick Mask and remove the red mask from the center of the kiwi:
  - Use the "Paint Brush" tool, to "add" or "subtract" from the mask:
 

- [black] blocks (adds to the mask) and [white] clears (removes the mask)
- "X" on the keyboard toggles between black and white
- the left bracket "[" selects the next smallest brush
- the right bracket "]" selects the next largest brush
Note: it's better to make the selection slightly smaller than the object

9. When done, press "Q" to exit Quick Mask and return to "Selection" (marching ants).
10. Add layer mask of selection: [click+ add Layer mask icon] [bottom left icon on layers palette]
11. Soften mask: Menu: >Filter>Blur>Blur
12. Double Click "Zoom" tool to return to 100% magnification
 
Select the mushroom and refine with Quick Mask:
1. Make "Background" active
2. Use the "Rectangle Marquee" to select an area slightly larger than the mushroom
3. Create a new layer [Ctrl+J] containing the mushroom
4. Make only this new layer active and visible [Alt+eye]
5. Zoom in by drawing a bounding box around the mushroom with the "Zoom" tool
6. Using the magnetic lasso, set the Edge Contrast to 10% and select around the edge of mushroom
7. Press "Q" to enter Quick Mask and refine the mask around edge of mushroom:
  - Use the "Paint Brush" tool, to "add" or "subtract" from the mask:
 

- [black] blocks and [white] clears the mask area…"X" toggles between black and white
- the polygon tool can be used and filled with black or white to alter mask

8. When done, press "Q" to exit Quick Mask and return to "Selection" (marching ants).
9. Create layer mask of selection: [click+ add Layer mask icon] [bottom left icon on layers palette]
10. Double Click "Zoom" tool to return to 100% magnification
11. Make kiwi "Layer 1" and mushroom "Layer 2" visible and view work
12. End session by closing file and DO NOT save
Revision 1.0

Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Keystrokes are for Windows... For lesson with Macintosh keystrokes Click here
Lesson 5: Adding and Subtracting Layer Shapes:
Selection Shortcuts :
- [Shift+tool] adds to selection; [Alt+tool] subtracts from selection
- [Ctrl+Z] will revert to last selection
- [While selecting: Hold down "Spacebar" to move the selection… release it to resize]
 - [Double click] any tool to see "Alt" settings
Select various face parts:
1. Open "PSPselection.psd" file from lesson 4.
2. Make the "Background" layer active.
3. Select the eye shape: [Crtl+click "eye" layer].
4. Add the "nose" shape to the selection: [Shift +Crtl+click "eye" layer].
5. Add the "mouth" shape to the selection: [Shift +Crtl+click "mouth" layer].
6. Create a new layer of the current selection and name it "eye-nose-mouth": [Alt+Ctrl+J]
7. Make a selection of all face part shapes: [Shift +Crtl+(each face layer)].
8. Subtract the eye; nose & mouth shapes from selection: [Alt+Ctrl+click "eye-nose-mouth" layer]
9. With the "Background" active; create and name a new layer of the current selection:
  - [Alt+Ctrl+J] ... "NO eye-nose-mouth"
10. Merge the 2 newly created layers and name it "All face parts".
11. Save file.
Revision 1.0

Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Lesson 6: Creating and Applying Layer Mask:
Select various face parts:
1. Open "PSPselection.psd" file from lesson 5.
2. Duplicate the "Background" layer.
3. Select all face parts: [Crtl+click "All face parts" layer].
  {clean and modify selection in Quick Mask Mode if necessary}
4. Create layer mask of selection: [click+ add Layer mask icon]
  {soften mask if necessary: Menu: >Filter>Blur>Blur}
5. Apply layer mask:
  a) dragging the mask to the "trash can" icon.
b) when prompted: "Apply mask to layer before removing?" click [Apply]
6. Make only "Background copy" layer visible and observe.
7. Save and Close file.
Revision 1.0
Home