How to make my cutout look smooth

[marenc]

I'm cutting out this image in an attempt to make a sleek product presentation.

but my cutout looks CUT OUTISH. What effect would I apply to make it look smooth and natural like the photo was taken on the background that i'm going to place it on?

I've attached a pic for you to see

 

[Hoogle]

apply a layer mask and brush in black around the edges with a soft brush and low opacity. If that still is not as smooth as you would like make your selection again and add a couple of pixel feather to your selection

 

[hawkeye]

Try using the smudge tool set at a low strength around the edges.

 

[Sierraccr]

This is probably the hardest thing for anyone doing these types of manipulations. As a quick glance at some of the cuts even in expensive advertisements will show you, even the so-called "experts" don't always get it right.

Honestly, it's more trial and error than any hard and fast rule. Feathering edges, drop shadows, running the burn tool (with opacity WAY down) around the edges, Hoogle's trick of using a layer mask, playing with the brightness settings - all of these are tools in the arsenal.

In this case, I would re-cut it and feather the edges, then do the layer mask trick (which is one of my favorites). I would also apply a faint gradient to the background. The flat pink is adding to the not-quite-real look.