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I'm assuming you're referring to photoshop. Also, i think that plugin you referred to isn't available until next month.

Anyway, it depends on what you're cutting out. And do you want to cut something out, or make a clipping path?

If you're needing a clipping path, you're usually better off with the pen tool. it's slow, but you will end up with better paths that look more professional.

If you're looking to knock out backgrounds and such, i'd recommend the wand tool (turn 'contiguous' off) and quick mask. use those to select the background/unwanted elements. invert the selection and make a layer mask. that leaves you with the most flexibility.

The best tool depends on what you require the end result to be.

I found knockout to be more bother than it is worth. If you really have got a lot of time and the image is for the front cover of Vogue, then it may be worth it IMHO. The extract tool is fine for a quick cutout for certain types of image, as is quick mask.

Call me old fashioned, but I generally stick to the pen tool.

that fluid mask looks cool, i would like to try it out and see how really good it is.

As an update to earlier posts, I've been playing around with the Fluid Mask plugin for the past few days out of curiosity now that it's finally been released http://www.vertustech.com/fm_freetrial.htm so what follows is a quick review of sorts.

What I've found especially useful about the software is the region editor.  It allows you to fine tune the mask selections you've made, sort colors, reduce or expand the color range on a pixel by pixel basis and assign those colors into the three masking areas: keep, delete or complex (edges between your keep and delete sections).

You can use the familiar Pencil or Brush Tool to pick up or remove areas or use a Pen style tool to adjust edges pixel by pixel along a path. However the software does such a good job of automatically finding edges on its own with its One-Mask function that you'll hardly have to use the this tool to tweak it.

Unfortunately, I don't think the plugin is aimed at the home user which explains the $400 asking price which is a pity since its the accuracy and ease of use that would most appeal to this market.

Brian.

LOL. Reminds me of an old Jack Handey quote.
"Laurie got offended when I used the word "puke," but to me, that's what her food tasted like."

I'm with you. I mask by hand. I start with the lasso tool for the easy lines. Maybe feather it a pixel or 2. Then touch up hair/leaves/whatnot with the brushes.

destalk wrote:

The best tool depends on what you require the end result to be.

I found knockout to be more bother than it is worth. If you really have got a lot of time and the image is for the front cover of Vogue, then it may be worth it IMHO. The extract tool is fine for a quick cutout for certain types of image, as is quick mask.

Call me old fashioned, but I generally stick to the pen tool.

Very good points. For me, Knockout IS the best tool for very complicated cut-outs (hair etc) but like you say, it involves a very complicated learning curve, and can be overkill for simpler projects.

And even then, I don't use it as it tells you too "on the box", I use it to start the Layer Mask that will be used to produce the cut-out. A combination of techniques is required to achieve the best results though, Knockout, Quickmask with Airbrush etc etc )

And as to your final point, I just took a look at Vertustech's website, and the majority of samples in the gallery of before and after images require nothing more than a good eye and the Pen Tool!