How to get soft fur edge-In Photoshop

In response to a request on methods of getting a soft fur edge I’m posting two examples. While the approach is similar in both examples, it depends on what type of fur/hair you need to deal with.

In this example, the squirrel has soft but distinct fur. To replicate it takes a bit of time and practice but can be easily accomplished by anyone.

In this first step, removing the background, I used the eraser tool. This can be done just as well by masking but I prefer the eraser.

Use a medium sized soft brush and remove all traces of the background including anything that shows through the fur. A small soft brush should be used where the fur isn’t as thick as around the face, ears and paw.

Using the smudge tool with a small brush at about 30% pressure, “pull” out areas of color to simulate fur around the entire squirrel. It may take several strokes to accomplish each bit of fur but that adds to the more casual look of the new edge. Vary your stroke direction so that all the fur isn’t unrealistically going in exactly the same direction.

On another layer, using a one pixel brush at 50% or less opacity, pick up color from the edge of the squirrel and stroke individual hairs. (using the ALT key changes the brush to the eyedropper tool).

Again be careful to vary the length and direction of these strokes. Have some of them cross over other hairs for a more realistic appearance. Keep in mind also the varying length of fur that exists on different portions of the animals body.

For a finishing touch, use the smudge tool with a very small soft brush at about 30% and stroke over each hair you’ve added. “Pull” the tip of each one of these hairs to a softer point. This will result in a softer more photographic look.

The whiskers were added in the same way as the fur strands, with a one pixel brush at about 50% opacity but with a longer quick stroke.

I added a black background to make it easier to see the finished fur.

In this case, with the longer more defined fur, all of it will be rendered in.

Using the same approach for background removal, a soft eraser brush or masking if you prefer, remove the existing background and all areas of fur where the old background was evident. Keep this edge as soft as possible.I added a black background just to make the work more obvious.

On a separate layer, again using a one-pixel brush at about 50%, stroke on some hairs to imitate the fur on the original image. Use a single, quick curved stroke again keeping in mind that all hairs do not go in exactly the same direction.

Add more hair using the same technique. It’s a good idea to add additional hair using separate layers for each group. This will make it easier to smooth out the hairs later especially when they cross over each other.

This is the final image will all the new fur added. Most of the hairs have been stroked with the smudge tool, as in the squirrel image, with the tips tweaked to make them look more realistic.

As you can see, the creation of a reasonable fur effect is fairly simple. It may seem work and time intensive but with a little practice, mostly getting comfortable with the fur strokes, it can be done in fairly short order.