How Do I Edit a Subject Selection in Photoshop?

To edit a subject selection in Photoshop, you can refine the selection after using a selection tool like the Subject Selection Tool.

Here's a breakdown of how to do that:

1. Make an Initial Selection: Open your image in Photoshop. Select the Magic Wand Tool (or any other selection tool). In the options bar at the top, choose the "Subject Select" option. Photoshop will attempt to automatically select the main subject of your image.

2. Refine the Selection (Using Select and Mask):

   • Go to Select > Select and Mask.... This opens the Select and Mask workspace.

3. Use the Select and Mask Tools: Within the Select and Mask workspace, you have several tools to refine your selection:

   • Quick Selection Tool (W): Use this to quickly add or subtract areas from your selection.
   • Refine Edge Brush Tool (R): This is crucial for refining hair, fur, and other complex edges. Paint along the edges of the subject to improve the selection along those details.
   • Brush Tool (B): Paint with white to add to the selection, and with black to subtract.
   • Lasso Tool (L): For creating more precise selections, switch to the Lasso tool.
   • Hand Tool (H): For panning around the image.
   • Zoom Tool (Z): For zooming in and out.

4. Adjust Settings: On the right side of the Select and Mask workspace, you'll find settings to further refine your selection:

   • View Mode: Choose how you want to view the selection (e.g., Overlay, On White, On Black).
   • Transparency: Adjust the transparency of the overlay to better see the selection.
   • Edge Detection:
     • Radius: Adjust the radius to help Photoshop detect edges.
     • Smart Radius: Allows the radius to dynamically adjust to the edges of the selection.
   • Global Refinements:
     • Smooth: Smooths out jagged edges.
     • Feather: Blurs the edges for a softer transition.
     • Contrast: Increases the contrast along the edges to sharpen them.
     • Shift Edge: Moves the selection edge inward or outward.
   • Output Settings: Choose how you want the refined selection to be output:
     • Selection: Creates a selection.
     • Layer Mask: Creates a layer mask on the current layer. This is often the best option, as it's non-destructive and allows you to easily edit the mask later.
     • New Layer: Creates a new layer with the selected subject.
     • New Layer with Layer Mask: Creates a new layer with the selected subject and a layer mask.

5. Output the Selection: Choose your desired output method (Layer Mask is highly recommended) and click "OK".

6. Further Refinement (Optional): If you outputted to a Layer Mask, you can edit the mask directly by painting on it with black or white. Black conceals, and white reveals. Use a soft brush for subtle adjustments and a hard brush for more defined edges.

By using the Select and Mask workspace and its various tools and settings, you can significantly improve the accuracy of your subject selection in Photoshop. The key is often using the Refine Edge Brush Tool on areas like hair and fur for realistic results.