Working With Selections (Chapter 8, through page 133)
Selecting causes only the area selected to be editable. A selection contains pixels from whichever layer is currently active (selected). Selections have a moving dotted line around them – “marching ants”.
To create a freeform selection
· Click a layer
· Choose the Lasso tool. You may enter a Feather value at this time, in the Lasso options bar.
· Drag around an area of the layer. When you release the mouse, the selection will “close” automatically. TIP: close your selections yourself, so that you have control over the shape of the selection.
· You can create a straight line with the Lasso by pressing and holding Option, and clicking to create a corner where the straight line will start. Drag and then release the Option key to resume drawing “freehand”.
To create a selection with the Polygon tool
· Click a layer; Choose the Polygon lasso tool
· Click, move your mouse, then click again. This creates straight lines.
· Double click to close the selection automatically. You can also end where you begin, when you see the small circle appear (like using the Pen tool to close a shape).
· Add the Option key-and drag to create curves
The Magic Wand
· When you click with this tool on a image, a selection is created that includes adjacent pixels of a shade, color or transparency level similar to the one you clicked on.
· If you are selecting too few, or too many pixels, then try changing the Tolerance number in Magic Wand options (top). A larger number results in more pixels and a smaller number results in fewer.
· Click a layer; Choose the Magic Wand tool
· In the Options bar that appears, check Anti Alias. This will pick up semi-transparent pixels along the edge of an image (making the selection softer looking).
· Check Contiguous to select pixels near the original click
· Check Sample all Layers if you want to pick up a color that was created due to multiple, overlapping layers. Or, uncheck it to select pixels in the current layer only.
Magnetic Lasso
· Selects irregular shapes, but only use this when you are wishing to select an edge of an image that has high contrast in terms of color or value
· Play with the settings in the tool options to modify things such as Feathering and Edge Contrast – which will help you be more successful in selecting edges with this tool.
Moving a Selection
· With the selection tool still active, you can move your mouse inside the selection are and move it to another area in your document.
· With the Move tool, moving a selection will cut it. You will see the underlying image exposed afterward.
Adding to a Selection
Often using a tool makes for an imperfect selection. Don’t start over! Use the Options for each of the selection tools to add or subtract small areas of current selections.
· To add to a selection: Select the selection tool, and either add the Shift key as you use it, OR click on the Add icon in the Options that appear for the tool.
· To subtract from a selection, add the Option key while the tool is selected OR click on the Subtract icon in the Options that appear for the tool.
The Select Menu
· Memorize the keyboard shortcut for Deselect (command D) and Select all (command A). These are used often.
· Similar – choosing this after making a selection causes the select to grow to pick up pixels of a similar color
· Grow also picks up additional pixels
· Modify…Expand, Contract, Soften are all ways to modify your current selections.
· Feather: You can feather a selection AFTER making the selection here.
