Refine selection edges

The Refine Edge option improves the quality of selection edges, letting you extract objects with ease. You can also use Refine Edge options to refine a layer mask. (See Adjust mask opacity or edges.)

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1. Create a selection with any selection tool.

2. Click Refine Edge in the options bar, or choose Select > Refine Edge. Then set the following options:

   View Mode

   From the pop-up menu, choose a mode to change how the selection is displayed. For information about each mode, hover the pointer over it until a tool tip appears. Show Original displays the original selection for comparison. Show Radius displays the selection border where edge refinement occurs.

   Refine Radius  and Erase Refinements  tools

   Let you precisely adjust the border area in which edge refinement occurs. To quickly toggle from one tool to the other, press Shift+E. To change the brush size, press the bracket keys.

   Brush over soft areas such as hair or fur to add fine details to the selection.

   Smart Radius

   Automatically adjusts the radius for hard and soft edges found in the border region. Deselect this option if the border is uniformly hard- or soft-edged, or if you want to control the Radius setting and refinement brushes more precisely.

   Radius

   Determines the size of the selection border in which edge refinement occurs. Use a small radius for sharp edges, and a large one for softer edges.

   Smooth

   Reduces irregular areas (“hills and valleys”) in the selection border to create a smoother outline.

   Feather

   Blurs the transition between the selection and surrounding pixels.

   Contrast

   When increased, soft-edged transitions along the selection border become more abrupt. Typically, the Smart Radius option and refinement tools are more effective.

   Shift Edge

   Moves soft-edged borders inward with negative values or outward with positive ones. Shifting these borders inward can help remove unwanted background colors from selection edges.

   Decontaminate Colors

   Replaces color fringes with the color of fully selected pixels nearby. The strength of color replacement is proportionate to the softness of selection edges.

   Important: Because this option changes pixel color, it requires output to a new layer or document. Retain the original layer so you can revert back to it if needed. (To easily see changes in pixel color, choose Reveal Layer for the View Mode.)

   Amount

   Changes the level of decontamination and fringe replacement.

   Output To

   Determines whether the refined selection becomes a selection or mask on the current layer, or produces a new layer or document.

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