How do you Feather edges?

Answered by Jarrod Smith

To feather edges in Photoshop, you first need to open the image you want to work on. This can be done by going to the “File” menu and selecting “Open” or by using the shortcut Ctrl+O.

Once the image is open, you need to select the area of the image that you want to feather. There are various selection tools available in Photoshop, such as the Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, or Quick Selection Tool. Choose the tool that suits your needs and make the selection around the area you want to feather.

After making the selection, go to the “Select” menu and choose “Feather”. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Shift+F6. This will open the Feather dialog box where you can specify the feather radius. The radius determines how soft or gradual the feathered edge will be. You can experiment with different values until you achieve the desired effect. Click “OK” to apply the feather to the selection.

If you want to further refine the feathered edge, you can use the Feather and Shift Edge option. This option allows you to adjust the softness of the feathered edge and also move the selection inward or outward. To access this option, go to the “Select” menu and choose “Modify” and then “Feather”. In the Feather dialog box, you will find the Feather and Shift Edge sliders. Adjust these sliders to fine-tune the feathered edge and click “OK” when you are satisfied with the result.

Now that you have feathered the edges, you can copy the selected portion to another layer if desired. This can be done by right-clicking on the selection and choosing “Layer via Copy” or by using the shortcut Ctrl+J. This will create a new layer with the feathered selection, allowing you to make further edits or adjustments without affecting the original image.

Apply any final changes or adjustments to the feathered selection or the overall image. This can include adjusting the brightness/contrast, applying filters or effects, or any other edits you want to make. Once you are done, you can save your work by going to the “File” menu and choosing “Save” or “Save As”.

Feathering edges in Photoshop is a useful technique for creating smooth transitions between different elements in an image or for blending images together seamlessly. It can be applied to various types of projects, such as photo editing, graphic design, or digital art. Practice and experiment with different feathering techniques to achieve the desired results in your projects.