How to keep using Refine Edge in Photoshop CC 2017

( Select and Mask button )

First and foremost, I want to wish all of my photographer friends out there a very Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brings you those new photo toys and gadgets you’ve been waiting for.

( Select and Mask panel )

This month’s tip is more or less designated for those of you out there who are currently using Photoshop CC.
As you probably already know, Photoshop has recently made another upgrade to version 2017.  I don’t know about you, but for me it means there are usually a lot of new or improved changes and features to learn.  Personally I still keep a full version of CS6 on my PC because I like the Configurator Panel and CC doesn’t offer it.  I’m also a Cloud subscriber and have a version of Photoshop CC so I can try to keep up with the changes and because I get Lightroom upgrades forever.    

( Select drop-down menu )

One of my favorite features that was introduced back in Photoshop CS5 was the Refine Edge tool.  When I saw this I knew right from the start I was going to love it and when I upgraded to CS6 they improved it even more. Well, when Adobe upgraded their Cloud version to 2015.5, it looked like Refine Edge was replaced with Select and Mask. Seriously, I was very bummed out and thought it was gone forever. The good news is Refine Edge isn't gone, you just have to know where to find it. Like a lot of features in Photoshop, sometimes they aren’t that easy to find. Here is the little known hiding place to help you to keep using it in the newest version of Photoshop CC.

( Refine Edge panel)

In the first photo, you’ll notice the Select and Mask button on the menu bar. If you click that button it will open that panel. 

(see second photo)  

Here’s how to open Refine Edge instead. Go up to Select drop down menu and you’ll see the Select and Mask option about halfway down, but you don’t want to click on it just yet. (see third photo) Hold down your Shift key and then click on it. This will open our old favorite, the Refine Edge panel.  Nice huh?

I hope you find this tip useful, and as always, keep shooting and have some fun!