> PHOTOSHOP USER>^ JULY 2017[ 62 ]
You can use a similar process with RAW
files, thanks to Camera Raw smart objects. To
set this up, you have to open a RAW file in Cam-
era Raw and click on the “link” at the bottom
of the window to open the Workflow Options
dialog. In that dialog, click on the checkbox to
Open in Photoshop as Smart Objects, and click
OK. The Open Image button should now say
Open Object. Click that button to open the
image in Photoshop.
This creates a “two-way editing street”
between Camera Raw and Photoshop that lets
you continue to make RAW adjustments from
within Photoshop. In Photoshop, double-click
on the layer thumbnail to return to Camera
Raw and make editing changes.
In this example, the photo was deliberately
shot to be dark to make it hard to distinguish
between the subject’s hair and the background,
which also means that it will be next to impos-
sible to make an accurate selection. We want
to select the subject and apply a layer mask to
reveal a new background behind him.
After placing the subject’s layer on the new
background (more on that in the next tip), jump
back to Camera Raw and use the Basic panel to
temporarily make it easier to see the edge of the
subject’s hair. Click OK to return to Photoshop.
Once the selection is made and a layer
mask is created, return to Camera Raw to make
your final edits in the context of the new back-
ground. Click OK to return to Photoshop.
Remember, the key to both of these meth-
ods is to make temporary adjustments so that
you can return to the original photo once the
mask has been created.©Dave Cross