Photoshop Articles Selection Tools
Photoshop: Selection Tools
Okay, so you have an image that is looking great – except for a small portion of it that you want to make some adjustments to. The problem is that you don’t want to lose all the wonderful work that you’ve done – the part that’s looking great. No worries!
You will have the ability to alter the color, shape, texture, positioning, as well as other qualities, while leaving the remainder of the image unchanged.
There are three selection Tools:
Marquee Tools, Lasso Tools and Magic Wand
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If the area you want to adjust is a regularly shaped area, such as that of a: rectangle, single row, single column, or elliptical in shape, you will want to use the marquee tools. This tool is effective and easy to use. Begin by setting the options you want in the Options Bar. Then drag over the area you wish to select.
The Lasso tools are used specifically for irregular shaped areas. You will find that under the heading of Lasso Tools there are subcategories: Polygonal Lasso Tool and the Magnetic Lasso Tool respectfully.
The Lasso works perfectly if you want the selection to completely or primarily freehand. After selecting desired options drag your mouse to draw a freehand segment of the selection. To draw a straight-edged segment of the selection it will be necessary to hold down the Alt key and click at the desired beginning and end points of the segment. When you want to close the selection border you will let go of the mouse button – do not hold down the Alt key.
The Polygonal Lasso Tool is used in a similar fashion but in the opposite way. To draw a freehand segment of the selection you will need to hold down the Alt key as you drag the mouse.
The Magic Wand is a tool in itself. It is used to select areas of an image based on color. You will the option of either: creating a new selection, adding to an existing selection, subtracting from an existing selection, or intersecting with the existing selection.
All of the selection tools can be used together or alone, depending on your needs.
