Selecting difficult edges

[Darrell_F]

This is more an exercise in PE2 than camera work. I'm trying to find the best way to select and extract difficult edges. I used a masking layer rather than selection tools or Magic Wand on this. Please comment.

http://darrell-f.hypermart.net/test/IMG_0241%20copy%20small.jpg

Camera Model: Canon PowerShot G2
Date/Time: 2003.02.08 00:56:53
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Exposure mode: Av
Flash: Built-in
Macro focus: On
AF mode: Single AF
Focus point: [Center]
Image size: 2272 x 1704
Image quality: Superfine
White balance: Fluorescent

[Conk]

The photo is very nice as is the frame. However, the edges you mention are hard. I see nothing wrong with the way you did it but I would just go one step farther by following the edges with a blur tool.
Personally I would have used a selection tool. I've also played a little with Procreate Knockout but haven't really gotten the hang of it yet.
Here is an example of my early work using selection tools and a blur tool on the edges.
http://www.pbase.com/image/3423929.jpg

[Darrell_F]

Thank you for the very quick response. Is the purpose of the blur to hide any errors in the mask or just to better blend with the background.? I'm new to PE2 and I haven't used the blur tool yet. What kind of settings did you use? I very quickly tried it and the default is normal at 50%. I read about Knockout, but the price is too steep for me.

[eland]

Dear Darryl
I think Conk's way is the way to go.
One can change the tolerance of the magic wand to get the edges and some programs even let one feather the selection.

My other comment on your image, and it is obvious that you have spent a lot of time and effort on this one is this... The flowers are dull compared to the too bright background.

A neutral background color would be preferable.
Black blue or green are ok but they should be just that...
background and not fight with the subject.

A pale graduated color would also work, but I would start with the flowers themselves.
The light on them is rather flat and it's hard to see the outline and detail of the flowers which are rather gray.
The bright blue between the two flowers is also a distraction.
Perhaps you should try one bloom alone first and get things working for you.

On the matte and frame, perhaps it's too blue. You could have picked up some of the yellow or brown color from the center of the flowers.

Regards
eland

[Darrell_F]

http://darrell-f.hypermart.net/test/IMG_0241web.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to add your suggestions.

[Conk]

Looks good. Much better. The only hard edge I see is the one in the middle near the green glow bottom center.