Masking

[Vadim]

Hi everyone!

I just want to ask: what masking techniques (programs) do you advice?

I don't like Magic Wand, Magnetic Lasso and Extract plugin. They usually take too long time to get appropriate results. Do you have any experience with 3-d party freeware\shareware plugins? I heard about Fluid Mask/GrowCut/ EZ Mask and Mask Pro. Which is the best?

[RTW1]

Fast masking is often not possible but if you learn the pen tool, quick mask and channel masking you should be ready for most jobs.
This stuff takes an age to explain so check out the link
http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

[Mchilly]

Pen tool and quick mask works easy for me but If you want to do fast masking I think there are online photo editor that can instantly do photo masking

[gnurf]

Russel Brown's techniques are a good start, and also take a look what you can find from Katrin Eismann. I personally use masks made from the color channels (the techniques are based on RB's and KE's) and the masking differs a bit from situation to situation. The new smart masking tool (the exact name escapes me at the moment) in CS3 is pretty good too.