To use the Refine Edge feature in Photopea, you can start by choosing Select - Refine Edge, or by clicking the "Refine Edge" button in the top panel of any selection tool. The primary goal when using this feature is to make a Trimap.
Getting Started with Refine Edge
Accessing the Refine Edge tool is straightforward:
- Navigate to the top menu and select
Select > Refine Edge. - Alternatively, if you have a selection tool active (like the Marquee, Lasso, or Quick Selection tool), look for and click the "Refine Edge" button located in the options bar at the top of the Photopea window.
Once opened, the Refine Edge workspace allows you to fine-tune selections, especially around complex areas like hair or fur.
Understanding the Trimap Concept
The fundamental principle behind using Refine Edge, as described, is to create a Trimap. This involves classifying every part of your image into one of three categories using corresponding colors:
- White: Use this color to mark the area that represents Your object (Foreground). Anything painted white will be fully visible in the result.
- Black: Use this color to mark the area that represents the Background. Anything painted black will be deleted in the result.
- Transparent/Middle Ground: The area you don't paint, or areas where you use a special "Refine Radius" brush, represents the transition or "unknown" area where the tool will intelligently determine the edge. (Note: The reference explicitly mentions White and Black for object/background, emphasizing the core Trimap concept).
By painting these areas, you provide Photopea with the necessary information to accurately separate your subject from the background, resulting in a cleaner and more precise selection or mask.
In Summary
The process begins by accessing the tool, after which you guide Photopea by defining the foreground and background areas using the white and black markers, respectively, to create the essential Trimap for refining your selection edge.
