The smudge and blur tools in Photoshop might seem unnecessary or even damaging at first glance. If you've ever tried using these tools, you've probably noticed they're slow, appear destructive, and generally seem to offer little practical benefit in your workflow.
Coming to you from Unmesh Dinda with PiXimperfect, this insightful video challenges that assumption by showing how these overlooked tools can significantly improve your masking tasks. Dinda explains clearly why tools like smudge, which initially look messy, become vital for refining edges after masking. He demonstrates the common issue of bright edges appearing when an object masked from a light background gets placed on a darker one. Instead of struggling with tedious manual corrections, Dinda suggests using the smudge tool directly on the mask. With a moderate strength setting, a few simple strokes push edges in and simultaneously soften them, providing a natural blend with the new background. The technique is quick, precise, and remarkably effective, especially in images with shallow depth of field where softer transitions are essential.
Dinda also highlights the improved "select subject" tool available in Photoshop's cloud-based version. This updated tool is significantly more accurate, grabbing finer details and resulting in cleaner masks from the outset. However, no automated selection is perfect, and imperfections often remain, particularly around soft or blurred edges. To address these, Dinda recommends turning to the blur tool. Unlike smudging, which physically pushes or pulls the mask, blurring gently softens harsh transitions without altering the mask's shape. This proves especially useful when mimicking realistic depth of field in composite images or portraits, ensuring your edits don't appear artificially sharp or cut-out.
Expanding on this technique, Dinda explains how to strategically combine both smudge and blur tools to perfect complex masks. The demonstration shows how quickly you can achieve realistic results, balancing sharp and soft areas naturally. He emphasizes practicality over theoretical perfection, offering tips for when to switch between tools depending on the specific needs of different mask areas. Learning these subtleties allows you to blend elements convincingly in composites, maintain natural edge quality, and improve overall visual realism in your edits. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dinda.
