Select and Mask is Photoshop’s all-in-one workspace for refining selections. It helps transform your initial cutout into a polished, professional result—even when details like hair or wispy edges are involved.
Combines basic and advanced selection tools into one interface.
Ideal for cleaning up rough selections created with tools like Select Subject or quick selections.
Navigate to Select → Select and Mask, or activate any selection tool and click Select and Mask in the options bar.
Quick Selection Tool: Paint to add or subtract areas from your selection.
Refine Edge Brush Tool: Particularly effective for soft, hair-like edges.
Brush Tool: Manually refine precise areas of the selection.
Lasso / Polygonal Lasso Tools: Great for hard edges and complex shapes.
Additional navigation tools: Hand Tool, Zoom Tool, Object Selection Tool, etc.
Transparency: Adjust visibility of the background to see selection edges better.
Global Refinements: Includes Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge sliders to fine-tune the selection border.
Refine Hair: A quick-fix button that intelligently improves selections around hair.
Decontaminate Color: Removes color halos from the object edge, blending edges more naturally.
You can output your refined selection as:
A Layer Mask
A New Layer with Layer Mask
These methods keep your edits non-destructive and adjustable later.
If tiny background remnants remain:
Hold Alt/Option + click the Layer Mask to view it.
Use the Brush Tool in Overlay mode to paint away unwanted bits on the mask.
Feature ------------ What It Does
Workspace ---- Centralized toolset for precise selection refinement
Tools ---- Quick Selection, Refine Edge Brush, Brush, Lasso, and more
Sliders ---- Adjust edge smoothness, feathering, contrast, and edge shift
Special Options ---- Refine Hair, Decontaminate Colour for clean, natural edges
Output ---- Non-destructively export as Layer Mask or new masked layer
Finishing Touches ---- Final clean-up using Overlay brush directly on the mask
Practice using Photoshop’s Select and Mask workspace to refine an existing selection. You will show both the Before and After results side-by-side on your selection poster.
Choose Your Image
Use the photo in the folder above or pick a photo with a challenging edge: hair, fur, fabric fringe, or fine details.
The more complex the edge, the better for practice.
Create an Initial Selection
Use Select Subject or the Quick Selection Tool to make a rough selection of your subject.
Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—this is where Select and Mask will help.
Enter Select and Mask
Go to Select > Select and Mask (or click the button in the Options bar when using a selection tool).
Refine Your Selection
Use the Refine Edge Brush Tool to improve tricky areas like hair or fur.
Adjust Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge sliders until the selection looks clean.
Try the Refine Hair button for automatic hair improvements.
Use Decontaminate Colors if you see unwanted color halos.
Output the Selection
Set Output To → New Layer with Layer Mask.
Click OK.
Prepare Your Before/After Images
Before: Duplicate the original image (without mask).
After: Show the refined cutout with a transparent or contrasting background.
Add to Your Poster
Place Before on the left, After on the right.
Label the section Select and Mask Refinement.
Add a one-sentence description:
“Select and Mask – Refines selections for clean, professional edges, even on hair and fine details.”
✅ Before and After clearly show improvement in edge quality.
✅ Edges look clean and natural (no halos or jagged lines).
✅ Poster layout is clear, with labels and short description.
✅ PSD and JPG versions saved for submission.