Best Masking Software?

[fastprime]

I'm using CS5 and Topaz Mask at the moment and find them both lacking in the real world. In the computational area around the perimeter of the subject I'm unable to achieve subject / background separation without b/g contamination or subject fringe color shift for fine hair. Outside of the DOF zone its impossible to get clean separation.

I'm considering OnOne Software Mask product as the demo looks very impressive (although so did the Topaz demo).

Masking is a skill that I'm trying to learn and i'm open to any helpful comments from someone with experience and skill in this technique generally speaking or with regard to sw tools that work.

Thanks in advance........

 

[AlanPezz]

If you are masking something that you can outline with a brush then Topaz is an excellent tool. If the contrast is good there is minimal touch up after running compute. If ther contrast is bad nothing does a good job.

If you are masking something that you cannout outline like tree branches against a sky or frizzy hair I find Vertus Fluid Mask does the best job. It works good if there is enough contrast.

Mask Pro works on color. I find that in real life there is so much color variation that I have to change the samples too much to use this program.

Most of the examples on the internet are images that the companies choose because they work very impressively whith their software. Real life varies. I have tries frizzy hair againt a natural background with CS5, Topaz, Vertus and Mask Pro. If you have good contrast all of them work. If you have bad contrast non of them work.

 

[echelon2004]

If you shoot for small depth of field you really have to go on location. At first it seems simple enough to isolate the background blur from subject blur, but it really is not doable in a convincing money making manner.

Which is good for photographers, bad for retouchers
--
Anders

'It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice'

 

[CLOSED ACCOUNT]

I'm using CS5 and Topaz Mask at the moment and find them both lacking in the real world.

As a studio still-life shooter...I'm constantly masking the subject.

Every year I re-checkout all the stand alone masking progs....and, to date, I really cannot find one that is truly great. They all seem to have their inherent weaknesses and flaws.

To be honest, I stilll think that CS5 (manually using the pen-tool) and working at say 300% zoom level is the most accurate for complete layer/mask isolation (albeit a tad time consuming)....and also the NX2 "selection" masking tools...are great for working with very complex "subtle" edged subjects.

Please note, the NX2 masking technology doesn't create a 'true' masking layer (and at times will produce mask edge-bleed) however, it's definitely the quickest and most effective process in many instances.

For example....this flower took me approx 30 secs to mask...and drop in a "jet-black" background in NX2...using the "selection" masking tools.

http://kvincentphotography.ca/designerflorals/h3f101eb#h3f101eb

I would use the CS5 option (with pen tool) for a subject such as this becasue of the reflection image.

http://kvincentphotography.ca/stackedimages/h275ce860#h275ce860

Again, NX2 works wvery well for a project like this:
http://kvincentphotography.ca/productshots/h200870c2#h3df3553c

This kind of somewhat fiddly subject matter would take just 30-45 secs to mask using NX2 "selection" mask (+ and -)) control points

http://kvincentphotography.ca/macro/h13dee814#h13dee814

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a "one size fits all" kind of solution. So different tools for different subjects.

Give me a shout IF you find that truly great stand alone masking prog...coz so far, I haven't stumbled upon it.

KEV



"It is a small gesture, but one that can be very effective - especially in a large crowd. So fart, and if you must, fart often. But always fart without apology. Fart for freedom, fart for liberty, and fart proudly" (Benjamin Franklin 'The Dream' 1751)

http://kvincentphotography.ca/stackedimages
http://kvincentphotography.ca/designerflorals
http://kvincentphotography.ca/macro

 

[MarkThr]

alienskin snapart works good and cheap
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http://east.tsb.edu/Pages/MarkThr