How to Use a Grey Layer to Spot and Fix Mask Edges in Photoshop

Edge halos and stray artifacts are easy to miss when masking a subject, especially with AI-generated selections. Placing a neutral grey layer beneath your masked subject forces those problem areas into plain view, making cleanup faster and more precise.

Practical Tips

These steps cover the core workflow shown in the video for finding and cleaning up mask edges.

• Place a solid grey layer directly beneath your masked subject to make white halos and edge artifacts immediately visible against a neutral background.
• Use a hard-edge brush when painting on the mask — soft brushes leave semi-transparent fringe that re-introduces the halo problem.
• Adjust brush size with the bracket keys to switch quickly between broad strokes for large artifact areas and fine strokes for tight edges.
• Use the Object Selection tool to draw a rough selection around a problem area, then paint within that boundary to keep corrections precise without affecting clean edges nearby.
• Zoom in methodically and pan with the Spacebar hand tool to scan the full perimeter of the subject before finalising the mask.

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