Smooth a selection?

[Dreamer]

Hi All,

I used the magnetic lasso to cut out the image of my daughter at a track event. I then copied it onto the background of my project. I notice that her right leg has jagged edges all along her shin. How can I correct this? Is there a smoothing option?? I also see a kind of "halo" around the large face shot. I think this is from the feathering I used when I used the magnetic lasso on this, too. Is it possible to remove? Any other suggestions on improvement would also be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Dreamer

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1TVcMENncLlUSE6FYYCuOL6DB1y7en1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1TVcMENncLlUSE6FYYCuOL6DB1y7en1)

[Diana]

Hi,

Under Select > Modify, there is a Smooth option, which I assume you would use before extracting the cutout. I haven't used that much, if at all, so I'm not sure how well it works.

I generally don't use the magnetic lasso as in most cases I find it requires too much cleanup, unless there is a sold contrast between the subject and the background. I know this is not conventional, but I use the Polygonal Lasso the most and I click around my subject at small intervals. That gives ME the control over how close to the subject's edge I select. In most cases it seems to be faster for me to do it that way than to use another more automatic tool that requires a lot of cleanup because it doesn't make a clean selection. Of course, it all depends on the image and how much contrast there is between the subject and the background which method is fastest and best.

You can use the Blur tool (in with the Sharpen & Smudge tools) at a medium to low strength and run it around the edge of a cutout image to help blend the edge. Generally when I make a cutout to add to a new background, I don't feather the edges, but I'll use the Blur tool to blend the edge somewhat.

There is another way to blur the edge of a cutout. Ctrl-click on the cutout layer thumbnail to reselect the cutout. From the menu - Select > Modify > Contract - enter a small pixel value. Then Select > Inverse - this will select only the outer few pixels of the cutout. Then use Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and enter a radius to slightly blur the edge you have selected.

Hope this helps.

Diana

[Dreamer]

Thank you, Diana. I will try your blur suggestions and see what I get. I think I'll also just try your poly selection tool and see if that doesn't give me a cleaner look. I've never considered using that...curious to see how it works.

Thanks again.
Dremer

[ljameso1]

Something to try before start all over. With the runner layer selected go to enhance>adjust color>defringe layer to see if that helps.

[TonyW]

You didn't say which version of Elements you have but if you have PSE6 the refine edge tool is an excellent way to get selections right - it lets you see what the selection looks like against a plain background and adjust the edge until it looks its best. One of my favorite PSE6 new features.

Tony