[Adobe Photoshop CC 2023]: Knock it out with AI
When faced with tasks seemingly impossible... why not let Photoshop's AI engine do the heavy lifting?
Photoshop users are no strangers to ever-evolving selection tools–so much so that many of us resort to relying on the most conventional techniques just for the elusive benefit of perceived immutability. Many of us, as a result, are working harder than need be!
Say good-bye to the likes of Marquee tools, Lassos and the Magic Wand. Say Hello to an Object Selection tool that’s finally able to deliver on its promise of time-saving instant knock-outs when applied to even the most challenging imagery.
Image credits: Kristina Petrick (@dayinmydreams) | Unsplash.
No time to waste? Why not try a touch of AI…
Adobe has been working on smart selection tools for years, seeking to harness artificial intelligence to save you time on tedious mousing. In the latest version of Photoshop CC - appropriately marked with the number 2023 for the New Year - these efforts are beginning to live up to the hype–at last.
All the fluff–and some of the buzz
There's no shortage of challenges when it comes to object selection in Photoshop. Whether it's adjacent patterns that seem to mesh or blurred edges, or blended colors: if you're in a rush, old-school selection tools and techniques can only get you so far. In the race against the clock, the most easy-to use and yet sophisticated features win.
Cropping hair and fur has always been one of the more tedious challenges, but fine, detailed patterns can also put you in a bind. Such is the case with this photo series by luxury-fashion-blogger-turned-creative-director Kristina Petrick (Day in my Dreams) shown here: the interplay of colors and patterns on the model's clothes with the backdrop of shadows on the wall of what looks like a storage container makes for a rough ride when all you have at your disposal are Marquee tools, Lassos and the Magic Wand or even brushes (for those who know how to use them on a layer or filter mask).
But wait, there is more: those charming strands of hair may harmonize with the outfit, but they also blend in with the backdrop at the same time. The photo has all the hallmarks of a truly challenging knock-out, but lucky you! Photoshop’s AI engine is finally up to the task.
When you know where to click, cropping the model is now a breeze.
A "knock-out" with AI
Using AI techniques in Phooshop, you can now select the most difficult objects in the most challenging of scenes in no time with just a few clicks in no time flat.
In short:
Step 1. Automatic object detection is your friend.
Step 2. Enhance the selection with the Object Selection Tool.
Step 3: Refine the contours of the selection.
Step 1. Automatic object detection is your friend.
Activate the Object Selection tool and take a critical look at the settings in the Options bar.
When you enable the Object Finder option, Photoshop's AI engine will attempt to recognize the subject based on image characteristics to detect edges and select the subject automatically.
In the example image, Photoshop had no trouble telling apart the mode’s silhouette from the backdrop without user intervention. When need be, you can help it along by using the Rectangle or Lasso tools from the Options bar (see the next step for more).
Photoshop has even recognized the handbag, but not the chain. If it is necessary to include the whole handbag in the active selection, you would have to help the program at least a little bit.
Step 2. Enhance the selection with the Object Selection Tool.
Now, when you hover over the model, Photoshop highlights the elements it perceives as separate objects. They may not match the objects precisely. To improve the selection, you can add to it or subtract from it by holding down the Shift (the icon on the mouse pointer will be marked with a plus) or Alternate keys (the pointer is marked with a minus) while drawing on the canvas in either one of the two supported modes: Rectangle or Lasso. Your new selection does not immediately change the shape of the object, though. Even so, it does change the shape of the active selection. You will have to hit Q to inspect it.
To enhance the selection, use the tools Rectangle or Lasso from the Options bar (they are different from the ones in the Tools bar). Draw a rough outline around an area and Photoshop’s AI engine will do the rest.
You can combine the action of "Lasso" and "Rectangle" to correct inconsistencies by drawing rough outlines around an area while holding down the Shift or Alt key. The former expands the selection, the latter shrinks it.
Now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of refining the contours of youu selection.
Step 3: Refine the contours of the selection.
The selection may already look the part as a whole, but here and there some inconsistencies may still catch the eye. To fine-tune the edges, click on the "Select and Mask" button. This will open the corresponding workspace. Photoshop offers the functionality you are looking for in the Properties panel at the right-hand side of the canvas and the edge of the application frame.
Click on the "Refine Hair" button in the horizontal control bar offers. Look for the associated parameters in the "Global refinements" section of the Properties panel.
In a vertical bar on the left-hand side of the canvas, Photoshop offers some tools for manual touch-ups. For example, you can select additional objects and manually enhance the edge with a brush or a lasso.
First, select the desired view mode in the Properties panel and set the desired Live Preview options. Then select the refinement mode (either "color-based" or "object-based", but be careful: changing this setting may cancel the active selection).
Tweak the remaining parameters to your heat’s content. When done, select the output method and confirm. It couldn’t be easier than that.
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