How to Make Smoother Selections in Photoshop CC 2022-2023

Learn how to make much smoother selections in Photoshop CC 2022+ using this super easy tutorial, and benefit from far more refined edges, no matter what you are selecting.

Smoother Selections in Photoshop

How to Make Smoother Selections in Photoshop CC 2022+

Video Tutorial

You can follow along and watch me demonstrate this easy technique with the video tutorial below. Hope it helps you out!

Step-by-Step Tutorial

If your selections are constantly giving you jagged edges and unclean cuts, as shown below, try this technique to get much smoother selections.

If your selections are constantly giving you jagged edges and unclean cuts, as shown below, try this technique to get much smoother selections.

Step 1 – With your image open in Photoshop, select the magic wand tool.

Step 1 - With your image open in Photoshop, select the magic wand tool.

Step 2 – Click select subject.

Step 2 - Click select subject.

Step 3 – With the subject selected, go to select > select and mask.

Step 3 - With the subject selected, go to select > select and mask.

Step 4 – Once in the selection properties menu, first select a contrasting color (I’ve selected black) below the view mode to help you better see the edge of your selection.

Step 4 - Once in the selection properties menu, first select a contrasting color (I've selected black) below the view mode to help you better see the edge of your selection.

Step 5 – Increase the opacity to 100%.

Step 5 - Increase the opacity to 100%.

Step 6 – Zoom in to certain areas using cmd/ctrl + to identify places to improve the selection. Under refine mode, select object aware.

Step 6 - Zoom in to certain areas using cmd/ctrl + to identify places to improve the selection. Under refine mode select object aware.

Step 7 – Under edge detection, play around with the slider to increase or decrease the radius range.

Step 7 - Under edge detection play around with the slider to increase or decrease the radius range.

Step 8 – Further enhance the selection using the options under global refinements, which include smooth, feather, contrast, and shift edge.

Step 8 - Further enhance the selection using the options under global refinements, which include smooth, feather, contrast, and shift edge.

Step 9 – Once happy with your selection, select new layer with layer mask under output.

Step 9 - Once happy with your selection, select new layer with layer mask under output.

Step 10 – Click okay to refine and create the new layer.

Step 10 - Click okay to refine and create the new layer.

Step 11 – You will now return to your document, and your new layer with your refined selection will have now been created.

Step 11 - You will now return to your document and your new layer with your refined selection will have now been created.

You can test it against a contrasting background by making a new layer and filling it with a contrasting color using the paint bucket tool.

You can test it against a contrasting background by making a new layer and filling it with a contrasting color using the paint bucket tool.

Hopefully, with the select and mask options, you can generate much better-looking assets that blend seamlessly into backgrounds and do away with jagged white edges and pixelated cuts.

This technique has been a real game-changer for me. Whether I’m selecting a person to be placed onto a poster or trying to separate the subject from the background so that I can experiment with different background colors and styles, this technique always gives me smoother selections and saves a lot of time.

Featured Image: Licensed by Freepik