Extract Filter v Refine Edge CS5

I hear a lot of people talking blithely about how superior Refine Edge is to the previous Extract Filter.
If you look at the two sample files called "Auto Align 1" and "Auto Align 2" in the tutorials folder a couple of versions back you'll find 2 children with sharp outlines against the background and frothy hair around the girl. Can someone please explain to me how refine edge can - in 1 fell swoop - eliminate the clearly defined background around the shoulders AND leave the frothiness of the girls' hair? Until then I stand resolute that REFINE EDGE is NOT a substitute for the EXTRACT FILTER at all!

Based on my experience, I suggest the following, when using Refine Edge:
1.  Foremost:  Work on as high resolution an image as you can.
2.  As I mentioned, listen carefully to what Russell Brown says in his video.  Less is more when it comes to selection, then add areas of transition.
3.  Take the time, as you might with the old extract filter, to brush carefully over the areas of transition to make sure you get all the strands.
4.  Check your results against the white and black backgrounds using W and B shortcut keys to make sure you've got all the areas of transition you need.
5.  Don't be afraid to use the Decontaminate Colors feature - possibly even cranked all the way up.
6.  Understand that if you're masking someone Photographed in a light studio, that hair highlights and other visual cues might not look right against a dark background, and you may need to use the Burn tool or other techniques to help hide that.  The eye/brain are great at picking up inconsistencies in the lighting, and that has little to do with masking.
As with anything, it takes some getting used to and practice, but the results can be quite good.
-Noel

Similar Messages

  • Refine Edge CS5 question

    Hi,
    I'm wondering if there is any way that I can get a work path and/or  clipping path after using the refine edge tool.
    I've tried to find a way to save the changes / result after using it so that I can save the image with a transparent background, but no luck.
    //S

    As long as you don't use the decontaminate colors option in the
    refine edge dialog, you could output to a selection and make a work path
    from the selection or output to a layer mask or new layer with layer mask
    and load the layer mask selection and make a workpath from that.
    You can save images with transparency in several formats including psd,
    tif, pdf and png.
    When using the decontaminate colors option, photoshop thinks you want to blend the
    selection with a background so the resulting output is not good for just transparent images
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    MTSTUNER

  • What happened to the Extract filter? (In CS5)

    I just upgraded to PS CS5 (from CS3). Where did they move the Extract filter to?
    Does CS5 have a newer, better way to extract a subject from its background than CS3's extract filter?
    Thanks-

    The Extract filter was eliminated as it has been made utterly obsolete by the new selection techniques in CS5.
    Watch this video, for instance:
    http://photoshopnews.com/2010/04/30/refine-edge-hair-masking-in-photos hop-cs5/
    Wo Tai Lao Le
    我太老了

  • Force foreground color like in old Extract filter in CS5 masks

    Ok, so we lossed the Extract filter, and refine edges does a fine job on my models and hair.
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    How can we achieve the same with the new tools? I’ve had no luck so far in achieving a similar result.
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    Adobe has a reg fix called allow old GPUs on. Tried it out. Got rid of the border,but using the marquee tool causes the doc window to go blank.
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  • Extract filter in CS5 (Mac)

    I just got CS5 last week and I'm trying to use the Extract filter but can't seem to find it anywhere. If I remember correctly, I had to download the plugin for CS4 but I don't see anything for CS5, only for Windows. What's up with that? Can anyone tell me if there's a plugin for PS CS5 Mac yet? Thank you in advance.

    Also check out these great resources on the superior Select > Refine Edge command:
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  • Photoshop CS5 Windows Version: Extract filter missing

    Hi!
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    From where EXACTLY can I download this addtional plugin? (And why is it not in the SW in the first place?)
    Best regards
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    I had Windows PS7 before I bought this Mac CS5 and I used to get good results with the Extract Filter.  Now I'm trying to extract a girl's picture to put into a composite image.  I followed exactly the steps in Jan Kabili's video instruction [http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs5/using-improved-selecting-and-masking/] and I got awful results.  Using "Smart Radius", sharp edges of the original selection became eroded several pixels back and both expanded selection and original selection turned gray wherever the refine radius tool was used. 
    Multiple passes with the "refine" tool seem to erase selected areas rather than increase them.
    I noticed that another user had the same complaint in a mid May posting to the "where is extract filter?" thread.
    I'd surely like to know how to make this thing work, because I have a three day deadline to get the project done.
    Can you help?

  • Where is the extract filter in photoshop cs5?

    Where is the extract filter in photoshop cs5?  Thanks

    from an Adobe Tech Sheet:
    Photoshop CS5 can be run as a 64-bit application on Mac OS, 10.5.7 and higher. Because of the changes that were made to the application, some plug-ins are not available when you run Photoshop CS5 either as a 32-bit or a 64-bit application. To work with these plug-ins, run Photoshop CS5 as a 32-bit application, then when you are done using these plug-ins, return to working in Photoshop CS5 as a 64-bit application.
    If you copy old plug-ins from previous versions of Photoshop, or third-party plug-ins that are not compatible with Photoshop CS5, into Photoshop CS5's Plug-in folder, you may see different problems, such as errors or crashes.
    If you have set the Additional Plug-Ins Folder in the Plug-Ins preferences to a folder, deselect this option, or make sure all the plug-ins in this folder are compatible with Photoshop CS5.
    The easiest way to determine if third-party, old plug-ins, or plug-ins from previous versions of Photoshop are causing problems is to move them all into a new folder called "3rd Party plug-ins."
    If this folder is outside the Photoshop/Plug-Ins folder, you can use the Additional Plug-Ins Folder Plug-In preference to allow Photoshop to access or not access the plug-ins in this folder.
    If this folder is inside the Photoshop/Plug-Ins folder, disable the plug-ins by renaming the folder by putting a tilde (~) as the first character in the folder name.
    Plug-ins not supported by Photoshop CS5 on Mac OS, running in 64-bit mode:
    Lighting Effects
    Extract (Use Refine Mask under the Selection menu)
    Variations
    Web Contact Sheet II (Web Photo Gallery)
    TWAIN support will work on some scanners
    Video Preview
    Send Video Preview to Device
    Embed / Read Watermark
    Firewire
    Firewire DLL
    To run Photoshop CS5 on Mac OS as a 32-bit application, select the Adobe Photoshop CS5 application file, installed by default in the Applications/Adobe Photoshop CS5 folder. Choose File > Get Info, and select Open in 32 Bit Mode. Deselect this option to run Photoshop CS5 in 64-bit mode.
    To determine if a plug-in causes an error or crash, remove all old or third-party plug-ins from the Adobe Photoshop CS5 > Plug-Ins folder, and deselect Additional Plug-ins Folder in the Photoshop > Preferences > Plug-Ins preference.

  • Is Refine Edge in CS5 a bust?

    Notwithstanding the unprecedented hype from all the PS Gurus about the revised refine edge/refine mask tool in CS5, I have found the "Smart Radius" function of this tool to be a time waster not a time saver.  It never seems to work as advertised.  Instead of  taking my selections and improving them, it usually has the opposite effect.  Not once have I ever been able to achieve the finely detailed extraction masks, particularly of hair, that this tool is supposed to help one produce, and using the adjustment tool usually seems to make things worse, creating a smeary mask in areas that I don't wanted masked, and ignoring areas that I do.  After my edge is ruined I find myself using the remove tool to try to salvage my ruined edge, and often end up cancelling out all together.  How is this an improvement?
    I have read a number of different sources and watched several videos on how to use this tool, so I don't think I am doing anything particularly wrong.  But then again, I seem to be the only one complaining in this forum.  Before I give up on this altogether, I have to know, is this just a tool for studio photographers using green screens?  Is anyone having luck using this tool for photographic applications other than studio or staged photography?

         "The mask adjusted by Smart Radius? Are you sure that you fully understand what Smart Radius does?"
    I think I do . . . but your explanation is certainly clarifying.  I guess I might have been more accurate by asking "the resulting mask after using the smart radius to refine your selection."
    "It's not supposed to be a new superselection method that provides professional results, it's for when you want to do something quick and dirty or if you want to get a decent start which you can then further refine."
    In some sense this gets to the nub of my question. As this tool has been demonstrated, the radius slider, combined with the use of the refine radius tool, can do a pretty nice job (albeit perhaps something less than fully professional) of capturing the detail of the hair, given the right conditions without necessarily having to select individual curls or strands.  I am not experiencing anything close to that and I am trying to figure out why.  I'm am not able to pull out hair detail with this tool.  The "edges" in the hair are a blurry mess -- no use at all as a starting point or otherwise.  And, as for edges in general, what I am finding is that using this tool too often appears to override a perfectly good selected area, requiring generous use of the erase refinement tool.  I'm not getting "quick and dirty" results, just bad results.
    OK ... so stay with me Zeno.  I would like to know how much selection work you had to do in the hair before invoking the refine edge dialogue.  Where did you draw your selection.  Did you just draw a boundary and invoke the radius tool to capture hair details, or something else? Also, where I find areas in my selection that are not perfect but not too far off, e.g., capturing a wee bit of green turf against a leg, shouldn't I be able to expect that the radius function will be able to "refine" that spot?

  • Problems with refine edge in CS5-no longer working properly?!

    Hi all, just wondered if anyone has experienced this bizarre problem and if so how they went about fixing it or changin the settings! (i may have done something to photoshop for it not to work properly!!!)
    Basically, i have got CS5 and was very excited to find the refine edge tool.... made cutting out people real easy and loved it.... however, for some reason the refine edge is not working anymore. Everytime i try to refine the edge using the refine edge tool it isnt selecting any fine details of the cut. It seems to be erasing the image with a low opacity making the selection very blurred?!
    Hopefully you can see from the very quickly put together example that the refine edge tool is taking pixels out if her nose, chin, jumper neck and jumper! Any one know how to prevent this from happening?
    Thanks! Matt

    I am having the same problem with the refine edge tool.  It seems to work the exact opposite of what I was expecting.
    The above two images are before and after using the tool to refine the edge.  As you can see from the picture without the mask view, the selection actually got smaller after I tried to add to it.  When I use the other tool to erase an edge, as soon as I release the mouse button, the portion I tried to remove reappears as it was before.  This has never worked properly for me.  Also, I have tried outputting in several different ways.
    As for the questions posed:  The app and OS are up to date.  I am the only user on my computer, so I'm not sure what using another user would accomplish.  I will mention that I'm using Windows 7, not Mac.  I'm really hoping there is a setting I have wrong somewhere.

  • How to Install the Extract Filter in Photoshop CS5

    Extract filter is not available in Photoshop CS5...I guess..however while searching i found somthing http://www.egurudev.com/2011/09/install-the-extract-filter-in-photoshop-cs5.html
    Can somebody kindly confirm if this method works...if not please suggest some other alternative..thanks!!

    Check this out : http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/where_did_the_extract_filter_go_in_p hotoshop_cs5-12e7w3

  • CS5 Refine Edge Tool

    I'm experiencing a problem with the refine edge tool in CS5. For no obvious reason I am now getting an error message stating "Could not complete the Refine Edge command because of a programme error". this appears after I have adjusted the refine edge settings and clicked ok. The process was working fine until a copule of days ago. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem and can offer a solution. I've already downloaded the most recent updates. My OS is Windows XP.
    BriRonS

    Try resetting the photoshop preferences and see if that helps:
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/375776?tstart=0
    MTSTUNER

  • Selecting subject vs. background when extracting with Refine Edge?

    When extracting a subject from one image to another using the Quick Selection Tool and Refine Edge:
    1. When is it better to make a selection of the background, make a layer maks of it, invert it, load the mask and use Refine Edge VS. just making a selection of the subject and using Refine Edge?
    Thanks!

    You would do it that way when the object  being extracted is on a white background. You would place the replacement background on top of that image. Set the background replacement layer's blending mode to multiply for the lower white background will not effect anything on the replacement background layer. You would then add the layer mask containing the silhouette of the lower layer object and unlink the mask. Your inverted selection. The mask does not need to be very good for any fringe areas cut off by the mask would still show because of the multiply blending. Unlinking the mask let to move the replacement around.
    original image
    Replacement background on top set to multiply
    Add layer mask and unlink it
    unlinking the mask gives you the ability to move and position the replacement background

  • Is Refine Edge better in CS6 than CS5.5 than CS5

    Is refine edge better in CS6 than CS5.5 than CS5 - have there been continual improvements
    Thx

    The CS5.5 code is no different than CS5.  I can't say from personal experience whether the newest code is better; I've been able to get good results from both.
    -Noel

  • Refine edge tool (CS5) producing bad quality selections?

    I am having troubles where whenever I use the refine edge tool, the selection it produces is horrible quality. What's weird is on my old computer, running the same software and using  the same images, I could get much better results. I was runnign Vista on a laptop and now I'm running Windows 7 on a desktop, so It's confusing that I am getting bad quality selections with a much better computer adn the saem images in the same program Suite.
    anyone know what's up?

    Looking at the screenshot I assume you mean the artifiacts/blockiness? Have you checked disabling OpenGL to see if that's the culprit? From the help file:
    1. Turn off OpenGL.
    Choose Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences (Mac OS).
    In the Performance panel, deselect Enable OpenGL Drawing. Click OK.
    Restart Photoshop, and perform the same function.

  • Refine Edge - Curly Hair (CS5) - Help

    Hello
    I am trying to remove the backround from this image to have the girl appear on a white backround. I am having trouble using Refine edge to select the girls curly hair and remove all the backround color from behind the hair. I cant seem to get the color behind her hair to dissapear, and I also get a blurry result around the head. Any suggestions? Thanks.
    Jason
    ORIGINAL IMAGE
    SETTINGS IN REFINE EDGE
    IMAGE ON WHITE BACKROUND

    I have tried tweaking all the settings, I am still getting that blurred edge around the hair, and a bit of the grey backround is still behind the curly hair.  The shadow of her head in the original picture is the problem I think.  I have checked out all those other tutorials and you really cant compare them to this picture im trying to do, as the backround color is pretty close to the color of her hair.  Any other suggestions ? Topaz Remask?

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