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Posted on 26/07/11 3:58:35 PM
jaconrad13031
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Posts: 2

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Why can't I feather?
I just got photoshop CS5, and I'm having problems with the feathering selections. I never had this happen in the older versions, but whatever.
Whenever I try to feather a selection it just moves the marquee tool to a slightly different shape. If I copy and past the selection after feathering it, the selection shows some change to the edge, but it has less of a feather look and more an outer glow with a distinct edge. I've played with some of the settings, but nothing seems to work. I'd appreciate any help you can give me!

Posted on 26/07/11 5:14:44 PM
Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Why can't I feather?
I've not had any issues with this. I've made selections and applied a 50px feather using both feather and refine edge, both giving the same results.

Do you have a value in the feather box in the top options bar?

Can you show us a screen shot?

Nick


Posted on 26/07/11 9:31:59 PM
jaconrad13031
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Posts: 2

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Re: Why can't I feather?
I might have figured it out...Are you only able to get the object to feather if you fill after you assign the feather radius? If I fill after the feather radius is set, it works, if I try to select an object an then feather it doesn't work. I just tried changing the feather radius in the top options bar, but that didn't produce a different result.

I attached a pic of what the final outcome looks like if I feather after fill and then copy/paste to new document.

Thanks for the help!

[Attachment: featherexample.png (24.28kb)]

Posted on 27/07/11 07:39:12 AM
Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Why can't I feather?
Hi Jaconrad

When you create a selection and apply a small feather, you will not see the result until you fill the selection, or copy a portion of an image to a new layer above a new background. However, when you apply a large feather, say 250 px, then a square selection will take on a rounded appearance before copy or fill.

When selecting via Quick Mask using a low opacity brush, or painting at 100% with a light grey, you may not see any selection lines (marching ants) at all when you exit QM, but the selection will be there and will be apparent when filling, or applying a levels / curves adjustment.

I would recommend that the feather is always set to 0% in the options bar, otherwise PS will automatically apply a feather when making a selection.

Also, try using Refine Edge as the default method and experiment with the different outputs, which will enable you to see the effect. This is a great enhancement over 'Feather', which can be guesswork at times.

Nick


Posted on 27/07/11 07:58:41 AM
Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 7025

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Re: Why can't I feather?
The reason you're getting this glow is because you're creating the shapes on the background layer. The white is simply the background leaking in.

Try creating everything on a new, blank layer, and you'll get the result you want.

Everything Nick says is correct, of course.
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