select and mask

[Terri]

I'm struggling with the select and mask feature ( refine edge) with this image. I just can't seem to cut this boy away from his background at the areas around his hair. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong but I seem to be getting too much selection going over the age of his hair, or otherwise not enough of the little hair pieces. 

I hope this is not too broad of a question but some tips would be very helpful!

Thanks much

Terri

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Don't feel bad, it's not your fault.  That tool never works.  It's an elaborate prank played by somebody with a sense of humour at Adobe HQ.  "Let's add this feature to make people think they can extract hair!  Ha ha ha!"

[Damien Symonds]

It's quite likely that what you desire is impossible.  However, spell it out for me.  What do you want to do with the background?

[Terri]

I'd like to cut out the boy and place him on a different background. But that hair - I can't seem to get it right - I either get too much background in with the hair if I try to get all the pieces in.

 

[Damien Symonds]

3 hours ago, Terri said:

different background

No, I really need you to spell it out for me.  What background?

[Terri]

Ok sorry!  I have a very blurry greenish background that I was going to try - I've attached. But really any plain blurry background would be ok.

I just want to boy to stand out with no other distractions.

Is that what you need?

Terri

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry, forget it.  It's simply impossible.