Subject Cutouts and Masking in Photoshop

Creating clean selections is one of the most critical skills for any digital creator, yet handling complex edges like hair, fur, and transparent objects can be incredibly frustrating. This text-based course demystifies the Select and Mask workspace in Photoshop, giving you the practical knowledge to isolate any subject with precision. You will transition from struggling with rough, jagged edges to producing seamless, professional-grade cutouts. By understanding the core mechanics of masking and modern selection tools, you will be able to cleanly swap backgrounds and blend elements into new compositions. What you'll learn: Understand foundational selection concepts and the difference between destructive erasing and non-destructive masking; Navigate the Select and Mask workspace and utilize its specialized brush tools; Refine complex edges such as fine hair, animal fur, and soft borders; Apply modern AI-driven selection features to accelerate your workflow; Configure output settings to generate clean masks and new layers without losing original image data. The course starts with essential terminology and basic selection techniques before guiding you through step-by-step written tutorials on edge refinement and advanced mask properties. You will practice these techniques through structured written exercises designed to build your skills. This course is designed specifically for beginners with no prior masking experience, as well as intermediate users looking to refine their selection workflows. Start reading today to elevate your digital editing skills and achieve flawless subject cutouts.