Masking Plugins - suggestions

My work load is becoming too high and masking is taking up too much of my time. I was curious if anyone was using any of the following Masking tools.

I am currently looking at
EZ Mask
On One software's - Mask Pro 4
Topaz Labs - remask 3.21

I am traveling for work but will be back tomorrow and was hoping to pick the brains of anyone who might have used these in the past and what they thought of em. They are all on sale and around the same price with Topaz being the cheapest. If anyone has a suggestion that I did not list I would love to hear about it also.

They all do have trial versions so I will be testing them also when I get back.

I've only used the Topaz Remask and didn't buy it if that tells you anything. I use a few of their other plugins and was highly disappointed with Remask. I couldn't get any better or faster results with it than I'm already doing. Check out the trial as your mileage may vary.

Why are you spending a lot of time masking? What kind of editing do you do?

With the advances that CS5 has made in selections do you really need a plug in to help with masking. If you don't have CS5 would it not be wiser to put the money you would spend on a plug in for the upgrade.

I have OnOne's Mask Pro and can honestly say I have not used it since I got CS5 though it is a good product.

I wonder if I am doing something wrong then. I am doing masking because I am shooting for a wig company and the work requires a lot of it. Maybe I need to relearn to mask but my way always seems like it takes a bit too long.

What's the purpose? Do you have to put them on white backgrounds, or coloured background, or something else? The more information you give us, the better we can help.

Damo77 wrote in post #12973830
Do you have to put them on white backgrounds, or coloured background, or something else?

Yes


if they are my photos then it is really not an issue since I light the images in a way that rather easy to separate the people from the bg using color range. It is not perfect but it works but images that I work on for others I have varied quality and backgrounds and that is where I am running into issue. I was just looking into alternatives and testing them to see if they were any better or easier than what I was already doing.


I tested the one from Topaz labs and honestly it is not any easier than my current process perhaps a tad but not really. I am going to mess with the others when I have time.

If anyone would like to link me any advanced masking tutorials I would love to see em. I have searched and consider myself pretty well versed but I understand that in PS there are 101 ways to do everything.

Might help: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=12123022#po​st12123022

D Thompson wrote in post #12958144
I've only used the Topaz Remask and didn't buy it if that tells you anything.

Agree. I purchased it, but then pointed out to their support team that that old free masking tool that used to be available from the graphics department of the university of Moscow worked better than their paid app. They asked for files to test. They never told me the results of the test, but sent me an email agreeing to refund my money - which I accepted.

René Damkot wrote in post #12983316
Might help: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=12123022#po​st12123022

Thanks I have been doing much of what has been suggested here although there were a few things I did not see before. I am starting to guess I was just looking for that "Magic Bullet" app that probably does not exist or not yet anyway.

Muggsly wrote in post #12984414
I am starting to guess I was just looking for that "Magic Bullet" app that probably does not exist or not yet anyway.

Masking is just one of those things that sometimes takes a while.

D Thompson wrote in post #12984619
Masking is just one of those things that sometimes takes a while.

We are in full agreement.

I agree with one of the above posts.
Since CS5, I only use Ps for masking.

My GF has used FXhome PhotoKey2 Pro in the past. Worked well (and quick).

In addition to my previous comments even though CS5 has made huge strides in this area, I still revert to making my masks in the channels panel and then there is no doubt about the results that you will get. This book is one of the best resources that I have ever run across for learning how to work in this area effectively.