AJITH PRAN, SENIOR
GRAPHIC ARTIST AND
2%4/5#(%2ď!4ď4(%ď$5"!)˶"!3%$ď
ADVERTISING COMPANY ICON, BELIEVES THAT
SELECTIONS MUST ALWAYS BE APPROACHED
WITH AN OPEN MINDCREATE
SEAMLESS
COMPS“Selection is always a challenge: there are many
techniques and tools for selection, and each varies
according to the image and subject for selection,” he
explains. “Selections unlock some of the most
powerful features of Photoshop, including the ability
to apply targeted adjustments with exceptional
accuracy and to produce creative composite images.
In my opinion a great composition is when all
elements blend together seamlessly. The key to
achieving this is selections.
“If you want a perfect selection, then even from
the earliest days of Photoshop the Pen tool has been
the go-to tool of choice, because it offers the
accuracy to select and re-edit selections for further
fine-tuning,” continues Pran. “The Pen tool is
particularly handy when used in tandem with a
Wacom tablet.
“Apart from the Pen tool, layer masking is also a
solid option that allows users to paint pixel to pixel to
precisely select what they want.”■ Wire Worm
If you find yourself often
removing wires, fences or
other similar obstructions from
your images, then Wire Worm
is the plug-in for you. It
automates the process of
removing such elements from
an image in a simple and
easy-to-use manner. Best of
all, it’s free, and you can’t argue
with that!■ Contrast Mask
Contrast Mask is another free plug-in that uses a contrast mask to
reduce the overall contrast of an image. It does so by creating a black
and white negative of an image, blurring it to avoid hard edges, and then
overlaying it with the original. This helps to darken the highlights and
lighten the shadows.■ Fluid Mask 3
Masking is a delicate art, and while recent versions of Photoshop have massively
improved this side of the software, there remain plug-ins that can help you get even
cleaner and more accurate masks. Fluid Mask 3 is one such plug-in, making even
arduous tasks such as cutting around hair a much simpler process. It’s currently
priced at approx £87/$149.THREE ESSENTIAL PLUGINS
I made an extra selection of the
shadow to match it with the blue colour
of the background. I put it on an extra
layer and multiplied it with blurred edges.I needed to make a selection of the
orange socks. They are fluorescent and
needed extra curves. After a rough
selection, I fine-tuned it using the Refine
Edge tool. This tool helped to select the
woolly hairs that are sticking out.To create the reddish
illuminated circle in the background, I
took a colour layer and masked it with a
circle selection on the layer mask. I then
blurred it using the layer mask
adjustments.The hair of the model was selected and
readjusted using the Refine Edge tool and
copied on an extra layer. I then blended
it into the blue background.STUDIO314’S BJÖRN EWERS
DISCUSSES THE TOOLS HE USED
TO CREATE A PERFECTLY
ACCURATE SELECTION FOR THIS
%9%˶#!4#().'ď)-!'%THE FINE ART
OF SELECTIONSUSE ONE OF THESE APPLICATIONS TO CREATE PERFECT SELECTIONS
Model: Lena Fishman/m4Models © studio314.dePRO GUIDE TO SELECTIONS