Intermediate Skills: Photoshop Masking and Selection

Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Selection Tools and Techniques

Lesson 1 begins with a review of selection tools and techniques, then rapidly expands into using the Lasso tool, automated selection tools, the Select and Mask mode, and using Quick Masks. You'll then proceed to work with the Select Subject and Color Range features and work with positioning the results of your selections in layers. Lastly, you'll load, transform, modify, feather, and fill selections, all done in the context of a large project to add images to an existing image and then add realistic shadow effects.

Lesson 2: Working with Masks

Lesson 2 begins with an overview of masks, what they are and how they work, how to view them, tools for working with them as well as how to check their properties. You'll then work with the Color Range and Select and Mask features to create a sophisticated mask including work with masking hair, a common (and very challenging) need. Lastly, you'll offset masks, create adjustment layers with masks and selections, and apply Smart Filters for non-destructive editing. Like Lesson 1, this will be heavily project based so you'll have plenty of hands-on time.

Lesson 3: Advanced Masking Tools

Lesson 3 begins with using the Properties panel to quickly access commonly needed tools that are chosen in the context of what you're working with - a real time saver. Then, you'll work further with selecting a particularly challenging subject with very detailed hair to create a mask. That mask will then be further refined to bring out all the fine details using the Burn and Dodge tools on the mask.

Then you'll have a really wild project where you take a pattern such as snakeskin and overlay it realistically on the skin of another photo using clipping masks and layer warping techniques. You'll wrap up that project with techniques to bring out the subtle details that make such a difference in the realism of a project like this.