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Precise Dehazing Hazy Backgrounds using Photoshops Object Selection

2 min read

Precise Dehazing Hazy Backgrounds using Photoshop’s Object Selection

Clip title: Fix Flat Colors with this NEW Photoshop 2026 Tool | 6 Min Tutorial Author / channel: PHLEARN URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KD8X-_5Cb4

Summary

This video tutorial from PHLEARN demonstrates how to effectively use Photoshop’s new Clarity and Dehaze features to dramatically improve hazy backgrounds in photographs. The main topic revolves around making precise, localized adjustments for optimal results, focusing specifically on dehazing a misty mountain in a tropical image.

The instructor highlights that while the Dehaze slider is powerful, it yields the best outcome when applied to specific areas rather than the entire image. The core challenge presented is how to accurately select a complex background element like a mountain, as standard selection tools don’t offer a direct “select mountain” option. The video introduces a hidden feature within the Object Selection Tool (activated by clicking a refresh icon), which intelligently identifies and outlines various objects in a photo, including background elements like mountains and trees, allowing for a quick and accurate selection.

A key takeaway is the importance of creating your selection first. Once the desired area (e.g., the hazy mountain) is selected, creating a new “Clarity and Dehaze” adjustment layer automatically loads this selection as a layer mask. This ensures that the dehazing effect is applied exclusively to the chosen background, preventing unwanted alterations to the foreground or other parts of the image. The Dehaze slider is then used to reduce the atmospheric haze, making the background clearer and more defined. The Clarity slider can be further tweaked for additional sharpening.

To enhance the dehazed area even more, the tutorial suggests adding a “Color and Vibrance” adjustment layer. A smart trick is then demonstrated: holding Alt (Option on Mac) and dragging the existing layer mask from the Clarity and Dehaze layer to the new Color and Vibrance layer. This instantly copies the precise mask, ensuring that the vibrancy adjustments also only affect the dehazed mountain. The conclusion emphasizes that this workflow of selecting first, applying localized adjustments with layer masks, and leveraging mask-copying techniques is key to achieving stunning, realistic improvements in photographs.

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