3 Ways to Smooth Edges with Photoshop Brush, Feather and Blur Tools
Last Updated on November 11, 2021 by Peter Wood
There are many situations that you need to smooth edges in Photoshop. For instance, you can make a composite image from two or more elements. It is common to extract things from different backgrounds. If you want to make those objects look natural, you need to smooth rough edges and soften color transitions manually. No matter which tool you choose, it is not easy to make a selection without jagged edges.
The question is how to use smooth edges in Photoshop. At present, you can use the refine edge brush, feather, or blur tool to smooth edges and lines in Photoshop. You can choose any editing tool to soften and smooth edges in Photoshop naturally and successfully.
Part 1: 3 Ways to Smooth Edges in Photoshop after Making a Selection
Here are three ways to make smooth selections in Photoshop. You can smooth pixelated edges and make those objects look real. This article will take Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 as an example. It’s okay if you smooth and refines edges with other Photoshop versions and elements. Just read and follow.
Way 1: How to Refine Edges in Photoshop Basically
Firstly, you need to make a selection for the foreground. The refine edge in Photoshop is a good tool. Later, you can smooth edges and make adjustments in Photoshop. However, you may not find this option in the new Photoshop version. During this time, you need to move on to smooth edges in Photoshop with other tools.
Step 1: Open Photoshop. From the Select menu, choose Select and Mask. Or you can choose a quick selection tool. And then click Select and Mask as well, such as Quick Selection, Lasso, or Magic Wand.
Step 2: There is a Properties window in the right panel. Under View Mode, unfold the View list. Here you can select how the preview presents in Photoshop.
Step 3: To get a smooth refined edge, find and use the Refine Edge Brush Tool. You can choose the edge softening brush in the second place of the left panel in Photoshop. Make a selection to smooth edges in Photoshop precisely. When you click OK, Photoshop will paste your selection into a new layer.
Way 2: How to Feather Edges in Photoshop
Or you can use the Photoshop feathering tool to soften the transition between the selection and background. It is a way to smooth brush edges in Photoshop.
Step 1: Click the Marquee tool in the left panel. Crop and select the area you want to use. You can use the rectangular or ellipse marquee tool to make a selection in Photoshop.
Step 2: Choose Modify from the Select drop-down list on the top. You can see the Feather dialog box. In the Feather Selection window, enter a specific number in the Feather Radius box. Click OK to confirm.
Step 3: In the Image drop-down list, choose Adjustments followed by Curves. Click in the center of the curve. You can add an anchor point and drag up the curve to lighten the mid-tones of this picture. Now you can feather in Photoshop effectively.
Way 3: How to Blur Edges in Photoshop
If you want smooth lines and edges in Photoshop, you should not miss the Photoshop blur tool. By creating a smooth transition, you can merge two different images into a new one naturally.
Step 1: Zoom in your picture to get more details. Choose the Blur tool in the left panel of Photoshop, which looks like a drop of water.
Step 2: Unfold the Blur Size drop-down list on the top left corner. Here you can adjust the size, hardness, and type of the blurring brush.
Step 3: You can use the Strength slider to blur and smooth edges in Photoshop. If you want to make the Photoshop blur tool vividly, you can increase the percentage manually.
Part 2: Quick Way to Make Your Portrait Photo Look Like Film
If you want to retouch images quickly, Photoshop is not your first choice. Though you can achieve fantastic image effects, it takes too much time and requires a high technical background. During this time, you can use WidsMob Retoucher to apply artistic effects and retouch photos within 5 minutes. You can remove noise and selfie imperfections in clicks. Moreover, it supports batch retouching images. You can save a lot of time on repeating the same profiles and image effects.
- Fix blurry images and eliminate image noise while preserving image details.
- Smooth and whiten skin naturally.
- Analog classic film effects and film grains.
- Make your photo special with the vignetting, fisheye, color opacity, and other filters.
- Clean, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface.
Step 1: Free download, install, and launch WidsMob Retoucher on your Windows or Mac computer. Drag and drop your picture into the main interface. Then click Next on the lower right corner.
Step 2: In the Adjustment window, you can adjust saturation, contrast, brightness, temperature, and tint with sliders. Choose Before/After from the View list to check the difference.
Step 3: You can touch selfies in the Portrait section. Move the sliders next to Skin Smoothing and Skin Whitening. The program can detect faces and beautify all portraits smartly.
Step 4: Go to other sections to personalize photo effects. If you want to make your digital photo look like a film, you can head to the Film Pack section. Here you can choose from multiple color rendition profiles and color modes. In addition, you can analog film gain with different sizes and intensities.
Step 5: After all customizations, click Save or Share to export your retouched images. You can change the output image format, quality, and file size based on your need.
That’s all of smoothing edges in Photoshop using different tools. The Photoshop refine edge brush, feather, and blur tools are workable. You can soften the edges of cutouts and make them look natural successfully. It takes time to smooth the selected object and background image. If you want to have a break, you can achieve similar photo effects with WidsMob Retoucher.
Different from Adobe Photoshop, the program has simplified all operations into simple clicks. All photo editing tools are well-organized into an intuitive interface. By operating simple steps, you can give your photo emotion and a unique feel. Why not free download it and have a try? The program is available for both Windows and Mac users.