Quick Tip: Masking Hair in Photoshop CS5
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Quick Tip: Masking Hair in Photoshop CS5

on May 12th 2010 with 26 comments

Photoshop CS5 brought a number of new features, including improved masking tools. In today’s video Quick Tip, we’ll be looking at how fast and simple this tool is to use on one of the most difficult subjects to mask – a model’s hair.

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Before and After

 
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Gary Dates is a Photographer and Web designer specializing in composited images. He also teaches Photography and Photoshop . His work has been published in The Photo Review, and several of his pieces have won awards in various photography competitions. He has a thing for Barbie and Ken. You can see more of his work at www.garydatesphotos.com.  

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  • http://photographyforsoul.com Can Berkol

    Not bad. :) Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.cdgn.co.uk Evil Uncle

    Doesn’t look real but I guess that is not the point in this tut.

    • Gary Dates
      Author

      The point of this tutorial was to show everyone how much of a time saver the new, improved Refine Edge command can be. Since I find myself masking hair more often than I’d like, Refine Edge has so far made my life easier. It’s a great starting point……way better than having to construct an Alpha Channel from scratch. I probably should’ve made that point clearer. I guess I got a bit carried away in my excitement. Plus, I needed to keep this around 5 minutes. So let me say it here, now. Refine Edge is a great way to START your hair masking work flow!!

  • nick-p

    wow… terrible masking at its best… sorry for the negativity here guys, its just that the quality of both the presentation and the result are below par for the tuts network…

    • http://davidappleyard.net David Appleyard
      Staff

      Sorry to hear that, Nick. We’ll strive for better in the future!

  • Mike

    Thanks for sharing this technic. The outcome depends on the invested time .. so, don’t worry ;)

  • http://johnmichaelrose.net John

    Good tut. Hair is tough to do. It’s not the best job but it puts the point across.

  • http://www.thedphoto.com Diana Eftaiha

    i think that was informative. thanks for sharing =)

  • Dario Cruz

    I can still see a bit of a seem in the after picture but nothing that a little extra tweaking couldnt fix. Pretty nice tutorial overall. :D

    • Gary Dates
      Author

      You can hit the right side of the model’s hair with a bit of the Burn Tool if you want to darken those highlights a bit. Is that what you had in mind? Always open to constructive criticism! :)

  • http://www.patthompsonsmudgepaintinggallery.com/ Pat Thompson

    Thanks for posting this tutorial! I liked it. It helped me get a better handle on how to isolate and keep the stray hairs while eliminating the background.

  • http://www.clippingpathcenter.com/ Al Kamal Md. Razib

    Wow ! Nice masking work ! Thanks for work & sharing !

  • http://callmemich.deviantart.com/ Michaël Peeters

    Nice tut, will be helpfull.
    Just got the new cs5 ^^

  • http://www.clippingpathindia.com Rokaiya Yeasmin Munni

    I use to using photoshop CS3 for masking. From today i will try to use photoshop CS5 to do as like this masking. Thanks for sharing the helpful tip.

  • sean allen

    Thanks for sharing this style. Well done!

  • http://www.globalweboutsourcing.com/ Globalweb Outsourcing

    Thanks for sharing this technique …….Nice masking work.

  • http://www.claucebrianphotography.com/index2.php lifestyle photography in Miami

    I use to using photo-shop CS2 for masking. From today i will try to use photoshop CS5 to do as like this masking. Thanks for sharing the helpful tip.

  • art2go

    I was going to watch this a few times, but reloading to commercials sent me on my way to find something I can watch without having to listen to advertising for things I’ll never use, buy or want

  • http://www.maxsongz.blogspot.com maxsongz

    Thanks for sharing this. I like it. :)

  • Tim

    OK for quick masking. Bad for professional work.

  • http://www.clipapic.com Photoshop Services

    Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou! I needed to brush up on my masking, And this tutorial proved to be invaluable. It is truly a service to society. I hope you will truly poses all the divine truths in life like forgiveness and like who controls the universe. so that you will not only be prospered but also be enriched spiritually and eternally. This is my blessing. May it go well!!

  • Tony

    I’ve tried in three different browsers now, and I can’t get the video to load. It’s even frozen up Firefox twice. Is it available somewhere else?

  • John

    Video doesn’t load

  • Dolan

    Nice tutorial, love this. Thanks for sharing ..

  • morshed1988

    This is really a great announcement..

  • http://www.outsourceexpertsbd.com/ Clipping Path

    You have posted one of my lovely technique hair masking. Thanks.