Creative Masking! [Ended]

**70skid** · 12-20-2009 06:22 PM

I'll throw this one in to the mix as well.

**Doonquest** · 12-23-2009 08:54 PM

I'm up for a good challenge and am new to Topaz Filters. There are three images attached to this message

01 - the image out of the camera, converted to JPG with no processing
02 - after using CS4 with selective processing, then the Topaz Detail filter
03 - after using ReMask2 to select the Kingfisher and replace the entire background.
The final image was made within 15 minutes of downloading the ReMask2 filter.

**Pictus** · 12-25-2009 11:58 AM

Taking out some years...

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I used ReMask for a quick/precise selective work, here it was used to isolate the skin
from the rest of the image avoiding the skin softening process to affect the other
parts like the hair, lips, eyes, clothing and etc...
The same mask was also used to reduce the effect of sharpening on the skin.

Selective work is the way to go and for portraits I almost always create 2 masks, one
separating the foreground from the background and another isolating the skin.

BTW, I did not removed the canvas from the background because he painted it and wanted
it to appear with him, as it is a crop you are not seeing the whole photo.

**Socrates** · 12-25-2009 03:14 PM

Wow. If that doesn't meet the definition of "creative masking," nothing does. If you don't win the contest, it was rigged!

**Pictus** · 12-25-2009 07:57 PM

LOL

Thanks Socrates!

**Mike Savage** · 12-26-2009 12:29 AM

Very well done and the commentary is a big help to me as well.

Thanks!

Mike

**Karen S** · 12-26-2009 07:09 PM

OK so I gave myself away, I'm a rookie at this. Does one simply send their photo in as a reply to enter?
If so, here is mine (if I can figure out how to attach it).
It is a simple use of remask2 but I think I will be using it nearly all the time! It's called mask the subject, enhance it then soften the background. I like natural look, I love using Remask2. Zip and done.
The color one is the original, untouched and similarly cropped.