USING SELECT AND MASK

After making an initial selection of the model with the Quick Selection tool, you need to improve the edges to include all the fine hairs and intricate detail. This is where the Select And Mask command comes in. Go to Select > Select And Mask then use the

SMART RADIUS

Tick the Smart Radius box and Photoshop will automatically assess the edges and decide which parts require a thicker or thinner radius.

CONTRAST

Useful for isolating fuzzy detail, Contrast enables you to increase the contrast of the selected edge.

RADIUS

The Radius slider holds the key to success here. Areas of intricate detail such as the edges of the hair require a larger radius to increase the area in which the command will seek out similar pixels. Areas with crisp, clean edges require a small radius.

OUTPUT OPTIONS

Once the selection is done, you can turn it into a Layer Mask by selecting Output to: New layer with Layer Mask. This means the original background is still available – it’s just hidden.