Topaz ReMask is an extraction tool on steroids which works easily and fast. Topaz ReMask can save you tons of time and efforts. With Topaz ReMask you can painlessly extract objects, change backgrounds, refine selections including complicated objects such as hair, fog, fur. You can use Topaz ReMask to create masks or just to separate object from background and seamlessly integrate with other images. While images with complex edges are traditionally hard for masking, ReMask helps a great deal in details extraction of the subject without requiring a lot of manual work.

All you need to do to start with Topaz ReMask is to define 3 areas in different colors (its called tri-map). A tri-map is made up of 3 colors: Red (cut), Green (keep) and blue. Wherever you paint red, ReMask looks at it and determines that those colors are meant to be removed. Wherever you paint blue, ReMask will take the color samples gathered in the red and green areas to figure out what the blue areas should be. The resulting mask can then be easily adjusted or refined using native Photoshop tools or inside ReMask itself.

So how Topaz ReMask works its magic? ReMask works by analyzing the information in the user-created tri-map and comparing it to the original image to accurately determine what to keep and what to remove in the image. Topaz ReMask saves result to a layer mask in Photoshop if you have one enabled on the layer, or just cuts image out of its background if you don’t. You have four views that show all aspects of your mask at all times to better control your final result.

Topaz Remask before and after

Topaz Remask before

Topaz Remask after

Topaz Remask before and after

Here’s typical workflow for Topaz ReMask (you can try it by downloading fully functional trial of Topaz ReMask):

1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Duplicate the background layer
3. Add a layer mask to the duplicate layer
4. Click on the duplicate layer to make it active (instead of the layer mask)

5. Click Filter –> Topaz –> ReMask 2
6. Make your selection and refine it. Paint the KEEP (green), CUT (red), and PROCESS (blue) areas with a combination of fill tools and brush tools.
7. Click Compute button. The mask immediately updates right there in the user interface.
8. Refine the mask if you wish by specifying more parts of the image to keep or remove. You have Tri-map view as well as Mask, Cut and Keep view to help you with refinement.
7. Click OK to return to Photoshop
8. Drop your new background image below the duplicate layer
9. You can refine the layer mask using any Photoshop tools and filters such as Feather and Gaussian blur.

Some technical specification of Topaz ReMask: It supports smart filters and both 8-bit and 16-bit RGB color modes, MAC and Windows versions are available. Topaz ReMask also supports Windows 64 bit and is optimized for multiple CPUs.

Verdict: Topaz ReMask is highly efficient product which makes time consuming masking operations a breeze. It’s one of the best of Photoshop masking plugins (and in some aspects it IS the best). For its price (69,99$) Topaz ReMask is highly recommended for anyone who is dealing with masks for creative compositing, background replacement and stock photo preparation.

Topaz B&W Effects is also included in the Topaz Photoshop Bundle ($299.99), a complete solution for all of your post processing needs.