Mask or Pen Tool Selection Help

[strawbs0302]

Hi,

When you are trying to do a photo manipulation are you better off using the mask tool or to use the pen tool to select the image you want out of your layer.

Thankyou,
Strawbs

 

[Paul]

Hi there.

It really depends on what you feel most comfortable to use, any tool you like that will do the job will do the job.
I tend to use quick mask with softer brush set and feather edges more than make up my layers via blends and matching lighting/tones etc.

 

[strawbs0302]

Thankyou for your feedback

 

[Paul]

Have you any images to share?

 

[strawbs0302]

i lost alot of my images because i lost my External Hardrive, but I will share some as soon as possible

 

[ibclare]

In making selections, I think it depends on the image. I will use the quick select tool and refine edge or mask for simple selections like broad, solid colors, or some with blurry edges like landscapes. The pen tool I use almost exclusively when I render a model. It's also very easy to use on geometric objects, rectangles, ellipses, and anything with straight lines. The polygonal lasso is good for straight edges too. Whatever I select, I always zoom in to check the edges. Those can be improved with refine edge/mask, painting, using another selection tool such as the lasso and filling with white or black to reveal or hide. Sometimes it can be as simple as select>modify>contract.

Anyway, those are my two favorite methods.

 

[strawbs0302]

Thankyou your answer is very informative, I will keep it all of it in mind when i do my manipulation and will share it with you when im done

 

[ibclare]

Excellent, we love to see the results!

 

[hawkeye]

Actually you can use quick mask and the pen tool together. Set quick mask, use the pen tool for the selction, then fill with black. Since it's a path you can adjust it as needed then fill again. When you exit quick mask the path will be a selection. If you want to feather it, right click the path-make selection and set the feather.