What Technique Do You All Use For Cutting?

I'm trying to figure out how to do better cuts on Photoshop, since apparently my technique is garbage and I'm too impatient to do any detailed work. Anyway, what I usually do is go to quickmask mode, trace the edges of whatever I wanna cut out using a series of straight segments with the brush tool (lots of shift+clicking with black, basically). Then I just fill the area with black, get out of quickmask, invert the selection, and paste it onto a new layer.

Obviously, this doesn't work so well in more complicated images (such as trying to cut out someone with messy hair or something). So, is there anything else that any of you guys do that usually gives better results?

 

polygon lasso tool. works the best for me, you can also try the pen tool, or the old fassion zoom in at 2,000% and use the eraser when cutting peoples hair with the polygon lasso tool, set the feather to a higher level.

 

background eraser and lasso tools

 

The pen tool is the best because you can undo and move points.

 

I use the elliptical marquee tool for most things around the edges and such and sometimes the magic wand for little things, but I dont cut often so yea

 

I can never even find the pen tool. Does anyone know if it exist on Photoshop elements 2.0? and if it does how to use it?

 

I suggest buying the tutorial from me and JWJ.
Exp[lains how to cut hair, fire, light (lightsabers, etc). Also you will find our secret technique that we use.

 

that tut doesn't teach detailed hair rendering where you've got long strands etc..

 

you can do that with the polygon lasso tool also.

and if you want a quick very crappy rendering job, use the magnetic lasso tool. its horrible but its good if you are messing up pics of friends and stuff

 

Yes it does.
You use the same process for strands.

 

when i cut hair i just use feather. its not that hard

 

im not going to argue with anyone but i believe the Polygonal lasso tool at 600% zoom and .5 pixel feather to be the best method i can find.

 

pen tool no argument about it more control over what ur cutting out

 

I just use the eraser tool it come out nicely.

 

eraser tool takes 3218468 times as long as the pen or poly lasso tool