Starting with the same technique as the misting tut, duplicate the layers, crop the top layer, use Gaussian blur on the bottom layer and do not merge the two. You don't need to blur the top layer with the smudge tool either. The bottom layer is not a requirement, but I find that it helps me see the edges, and by hiding and unhiding it as I work, I can find the places that need to be smoothed, clipped and even unerased. (The background is a little easier to look at than those awful grey squares. Sometimes, I add a white or black background layer for contrast, hiding the blurred background and solid background alternatively.)

Using my lassoo tool, feather 2, smoothing 1, Anti-alias checked. I make a rough outline around my subject, invert the selection and delete the outside bunch of the image, so I am working closer to the edges of my subject. Select none.

The first thing I do is enlarge the picture... until I can get in very close to the edges with my lasso tool. You can click on the magnifying glass, press the + key on the keypad, or first right click on the image and roll your mouse wheel forward to expand your image. To reduce the image, use the - key or roll your mouse wheel backward.

Sometimes when you start to click with a lasso tool, you don't want the spot you clicked in. Try getting off the screen with that thing selected... it's like cobwebs. Right click to clear a selection.



Now, I simply pick a spot and very carefully, start to outline my subject, clicking as close to the exact edge as I can get. I click a little ways, then swing around and very loosely click outside the edge of the debris, click backward to the starting point and when I am close, double click to close the selection. Tap Delete. Right click then left click where you want to start the next selection. Continue to clip off small blocks of debris all the way around your subject. It's ok to miss.