Modern graphics programs provide a wide variety of options for image processing and photo editing. Even an amateur or beginner can create an artistic photo collage or simply change a photo by replacing some fragments or inserting new ones into it. For example, it is very popular to combine a photograph of a person with some exotic background.
One of the difficulties faced by users of the "Adobe" package is the natural imperceptible installation of fragments of different graphic files. Many people wonder how to smooth edges in Photoshop. This article focuses on two options for solving this problem.
One of the most common pre-installation mistakes
Before we go directly to the question of how to smooth edges in Photoshop after cutting, I would like to dwell on the topiccorrect preparation of the image fragment.
The fact is that one of the mistakes of many novice photo artists using image processing programs is cutting out a fragment, which then, during installation, creates additional difficulties. So, for example, the contour of the future fragment is drawn too close to the future outline of the insert image. Sometimes even this contour is laid directly along the boundaries of the future insert. This is very irrational, as it takes away room for maneuver and creates additional complexity when solving the problem of how to smooth the edges in Photoshop after cutting.
Correct preparation for installation
When cutting an image to be pasted, do so in such a way that there is plenty of space from the image outline to the edge of the cut. Sometimes you can even cut out a picture by eye, with little or no concern for how neat it will look. The left margins will create additional opportunities for not thinking about how to smooth the edges of the image in Photoshop.
Sequence of actions when inserting a fragment
Select the future fragment for insertion with the Selection tool or the Lasso tool. Use the Copy and Paste (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V) or Cut (Ctrl + J) commands to duplicate this fragment. As a result of this, a new image will appear on top of the main layer. You can see this in the Layers window. Before smoothing the edges when cutting out in Photoshop, in no case should it be merged with the bottom one. It is with the layer that you will need to work.
How to smooth edges in Photoshop using an eraser?
Place the cut and pasted fragment of the image in the place where it should be as a result of editing, select the Eraser tool, adjust the brush parameters so that its hardness corresponds to your ideas about the degree of sharpness of the edges of the image. Please note that if you are working with a regular mouse and not a graphics tablet, then a brush that is too hard will reveal all the flaws in the line you draw. A brush that is too soft will probably create problems as it removes more than ideally needed.
Use the Eraser tool to erase the unnecessary left margins of the image, ensuring that the erasure border runs along the edge of the inserted image.
Thus, you will cut out the necessary fragment for the second time, already completely. This is the easiest, but not the most reliable way to smooth.
Edge processing with mask and brush
The disadvantage of the above method of blurring the borders of editing is that if you make mistakes, they will be almost impossible to correct. When working with a mouse, this is especially true, since there are usually quite a lot of erroneous, inaccurate mouse movements. Of course, you can go back a certain number of actions, but, firstly, in this case, a lot of work will be lost, and secondly, it may happen that the program does not provide such an opportunity, because the number of reversible actionslimited.
Another suggested way to smooth edges in Photoshop follows the same logic - gradually erasing the excess. However, its advantage is that all actions are completely reversible, even after closing the document.
To do this, you need to create a mask that you can work with. In the Layers window, find the one you're working with, select it, and click the Create Layer Mask button. Now select the brush tool. Its peculiarity in this case will be that when choosing black, it will work as an eraser on the mask, and when choosing white, it will work as a restorer of the erased one.
Next, you can start removing excess on the image without fear of spoiling something. You can always restore what you removed by changing the color of the brush. A strong pressure of the black brush will completely remove fragments, and a weak one will make them transparent. A white brush, on the other hand, will completely restore what was previously erased with a lot of pressure, and using a softer mode of this tool, you can only partially restore a fragment that will look transparent.
The same edge smoothing method can be used to hand-finish cut out patterns with crisp, high-quality edges. And also in order to achieve the effect of a smooth flow of one image into another or a flow of a fragment of a picture into the background.
