Photoshop CC 2015.5

I just upgraded my Photoshop CC to 2015.5 and I'm liking the enhancements a lot. Face Aware Liquify is fantastic, but IMO even more useful than that is the Select And Mask workspace. I've always had trouble masking hair, with this enhancement I'm able to get some pretty darned good results fairly easily.

I'd like to learn more about the subtleties of Select And Mask, so far I haven't been able to find any good tutorials online - probably just too soon for them. If anyone has found a good one can you post a link?

I agree on the new Select and Mask, Even if it turns oout there's nothing new under the hood the user interface is really nice.

Julieanne Kost has a good albeit not terribly detailed tutorial.

http://www.jkost.com/p​hotoshop.html

I found the following tutorial on this, hope it will give you some idea on select and mask. Here it is - http://photoshopcafe.c​om …in-photoshop-cc-tutorial/

I guess what I'm looking for is some detailed instruction on the use of the refine edge tool.

In general I can get pretty good results separating hair from background on most photos. However, when there's not good contrast between hair and background the results are less than spectacular.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a PS nutcase and have watched both tutorials, but have not tried them.
Any selection process done in PS relies on differences of some kind between the subject and the background...
the more stark the differences, the better the selection. There's a reason "green screens" are popular in Hollywood.
Additionally, superior IQ is very important, you will not get good selections if that hair is not pixel sharp.

Those tutorials look good, but, don't expect them to be perfect in all scenarios.

groundloop wrote in post #18054096
...When there's not good contrast between hair and background the results are less than spectacular.

I've found that it helps to add a curves layer and increase the contrast before making the initial selection. Then refine the mask. Afterward, delete the curves layer.

Tedder wrote in post #18055505
I've found that it helps to add a curves layer and increase the contrast before making the initial selection. Then refine the mask. Afterward, delete the curves layer.

Excellent suggestion, I'll give it a try.

Im reverting back to the previous version as Nik collection keeps crashing now. Yes, I will admit ive become somewhat reliant on it for my workflow. Just some of the presets in CEfex i like to use mostly. Just works so easy and the control points are great.

Il have to shake it off eventually but i have some pics of a little job needing done over the next couple of days. But for now i think id rather have access to Nik collection over face distortion technology. ...I've did enough of that for my characters in computer games over the years! Yes the select & mask is cool too. and i do like the interface too.


A real shame

Well. Its still crashing even after reverting back to 2015 and uninstalling and reinstalling Nik.
Still getting ''Photoshop has stopped working'' crash when i open CE4

Anyone any ideas please?

I know it is small comfort, but I am having no problem invoking any of the Nik filters from 2015.5, other than that they are rather slow in opening and also in processing the new layer - but essentially, no problem.

Windows 10. PSCC updated last week to 2015.5

lol, no worries thanks. Hmm good to know.

After i had uninstalled .5, and onto 2015. I seen a tip online to try resetting your preferences when you open PS> and re open. Hasn't crashed yet thankfully.
I wonder if that's all i needed to do to get it running smoothly on .5 too? ..But then you didn't have to do this im guessing.

il give it a go during the week i think. Im happy just editing away atm.

Thanks

Hi mate,
this might get pretty complex as I was struggling with Nik for a long time but general starting point would be to try to uninstall Nik and reinstall it.
If you save your presets (if you have any) you have nothing to lose and it will take no more than 5 minutes to do so.
Good luck!