| Method | How to access | Quality | |--------|---------------|---------| | Select & Mask (latest PS) | Select > Select & Mask | Better than Knockout 2 | | Object Selection Tool | Toolbar (W) | Excellent for simple edges | | Remove Background (new AI) | Properties panel (one click) | Best for hair/fur | | Channel pulling (manual) | Channels panel + calculations | Professional control |
Recommendation: Use Select & Mask with “Refine Edge Brush” – it surpasses Knockout 2 completely.
No. Knockout 2 v10387 was a 32-bit plugin designed for the legacy Photoshop plugin API (8bf format). Adobe dropped 32-bit plugin support in Photoshop CC 2018 (and even earlier on macOS Catalina+). To use Knockout 2 today, you would need: knockout 2 v10387 plugin photoshop free new
This is impractical for daily professional work.
As a professional or hobbyist, using pirated plugins harms the industry in several ways: | Method | How to access | Quality
Moreover, Adobe’s modern tools have made legacy extraction plugins largely obsolete. Learning current methods makes you a better, safer, and more employable designer.
The v10387 build is significant because it represents the version optimized for compatibility with newer Windows architecture while retaining the original Corel processing engine. This is impractical for daily professional work
Rather than chasing a dead, unsafe plugin, use these tools that perform equal or better extractions:
| Tool | Cost | Best For | Works in Photoshop? | |------|------|----------|----------------------| | Adobe Photoshop Select & Mask | Included with CC | Hair, fur, complex edges | Yes (native) | | Topaz Mask AI | $99 (one-time) | Difficult backgrounds | Yes (plugin) | | GIMP (with Foreground Select tool) | Free | Basic to medium extractions | No (standalone) | | remove.bg / Adobe Express | Freemium | Instant person/object cutout | No (web) | | DaVinci Resolve Magic Mask | Free | Video masking | No |
For archival or educational purposes, here is the safest approach:
Never download “pre-cracked” versions. They are #1 sources of identity theft.