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Photoshop
Tutorial - Creating smooth edges in curves |
Smooth Curves in Photoshop
 When
a curved edge is created in an image, it will show pixellation, or a
jagged edge where the pixels are stepped around the curve. To avoid
pixellation or jagged edges in images with curved edges, Photoshop provides
an option called anti-aliasing which adjusst the edges by blurring them
slightly. This reduces the effects of pixellation and presents a smoother
curve to the eye This standard facility is acceptable in many cases,
however sometimes it does not produce results of acceptable quality.
It is possible to have further control of the anti-aliasing process
in Photoshop by processing the image 'manually'. the steps below show
how this can be done.
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Select the shape you wish to smooth in Photoshop
by holding Ctrl and simultaneously clicking on the layer holding the
shape.
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Switch to the channels palette and click on ‘Save
selection as channel’ icon at the bottom of the pallette. This
will create a new alpha channel, with the shape visible.
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Click on the alpha channel and deselect the shape.
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 The next step is to blur the shape in the alpha channel.
Select Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blurr, and make select an appropriate
pixel width, then OK. The higher the pixel width chosen, the more
gentle the curve will be.
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Next, adgust the blurred edge by narrowing the width
of the blur until it is just enough to disguise the jagged edge. To
do this, select Image/Adjust/Levels and adjust the sliders from each
end until the edge of the image is smooth.
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In the channel palette select ‘Load channel
as selection’ icon at the bottom of the pallette, and a selection
will be made of the new smooth shape.
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Select the Layers palette and use the selection as
required, for example by creating a new layer and filling the selection
with color.
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