About selecting and selection tools

When you want to edit just an area of a pixel layer, you use a two-step process. First, select (mark) the area you want to change, using one of the selection tools. Then use another tool, filter, or other feature to make the changes, such as moving the selected pixels to another location or applying a filter. When a selection is active, changes you make apply only to the selected area; other areas are unaffected.

The best selection tool to use typically depends on two things: what kind of selection you want and what visual characteristics distinguish an area, such as shape, color, or content. Similar selection tools are grouped in the Tools panel:

Content-and edge-based selections The Object Selection tool () uses machine learning to identify subjects that you select with a simple click or drag; this is a quick and easy way to select people, animals, and other non-geometric shapes (you used the Object Selection tool in Lesson 2). The Quick Selection tool () quickly “paints” a selection by looking for distinct regions of content in the image.

Color-based selections The Magic Wand tool () selects parts of an image based on similarity in pixel color. It’s useful for selecting odd-shaped areas that share a specific range of colors or tones.

Geometric selections The Rectangular Marquee tool () selects a rectangular area. The Elliptical Marquee tool () selects an elliptical area. The Single Row Marquee tool () and Single Column Marquee tool () select either a 1-pixel-high row or a 1-pixel-wide column, respectively.

Freehand selections The Lasso tool () traces a freehand selection around an area. The Polygonal Lasso tool () lays down straight-line segments around an area. The Magnetic Lasso tool () automatically follows edges, typically giving the best results when high contrast exists between the area you want to select and its surroundings.

Getting started

First, you’ll look at the image you will create as you explore the selection tools in Photoshop.

1. Start Photoshop, and then simultaneously hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (macOS) to restore the default preferences. (See “Restoring default preferences” on page 5.)

2. When prompted, click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file.

3. Choose File > Browse In Bridge to open Adobe Bridge.

   Note

   If Bridge isn’t installed, the File > Browse In Bridge command in Photoshop will start the Creative Cloud desktop app, which will download and install Bridge. After installation completes, you can start Bridge.

4. In the Favorites panel, click the Lessons folder. Then double-click the Lesson03 folder in the Content panel to see its contents.

5. Study the 03End.psd file. Move the thumbnail slider to the right if you want to see the image in more detail.

The project is a shadow box that includes a piece of coral, a sand dollar, a mussel, a nautilus, and a plate of small shells. The challenge in this lesson is to arrange these elements, which were scanned together on the single page you see in the 03Start.psd file.

Using cloud documents

Photoshop document sizes can become large, especially for high-resolution images that use many layers. When you work with documents stored online, large file sizes upload and download more slowly; on a limited data plan you may reach the data limit more quickly. Adobe cloud documents help you edit online documents efficiently by using file formats optimized for networks. For example, editing a Photoshop file as a cloud document means only the parts affected by an edit are transmitted, instead of the entire file. If you use Photoshop on both a computer and an Apple iPad and you save an image as a cloud document, you’ll find it in the Photoshop Home screen on both devices, always updated with your latest changes.

Using cloud documents is easy; the only thing you have to do is save it to cloud documents. After you do this, your Photoshop document filename will have a .psdc filename extension to indicate that it’s now a cloud document, and you will now find it listed in the cloud documents section in the Photoshop Home screen. The conversion to the PSDC format is automatic, so you don’t have to think about it.

1. In Bridge, double-click the 03Start.psd thumbnail to open the image file in Photoshop. You’ve opened the document from your local storage.

2. Choose File > Save As, and click Save to Creative Cloud. If you see the standard Save As dialog box, first click the Save To Cloud Documents button.

   

   Note

   If Photoshop displays a dialog box about the difference between saving to Cloud Documents and On Your Computer, for this lesson click Save To Cloud Documents. You can also select Don’t Show Again, but that setting will deselect after you reset Photoshop preferences.

3. Rename the file 03WorkingCloud, and click Save. The file is uploaded to Cloud Documents. In the document window tab, you can see a cloud icon before the filename, and the filename now ends in .psdc.

   

   Tip

   You can also find your cloud documents in the Creative Cloud app (mobile or desktop) and website, in the Your Files tab in the Cloud Documents panel. The list may also contain cloud documents from other Adobe applications.

4. Close the document.

   Note

   Adobe cloud documents are stored in a different online area than Creative Cloud Files or Creative Cloud Libraries.

Now you’ll open the cloud document. Again, this will be slightly different than opening a document from local storage.

1. In the Photoshop Home screen, select Your Files on the left side. It lists cloud documents you uploaded using your Adobe ID. You can also select Home, where the Recent list shows local and cloud documents you recently opened.

   Tip

   You can organize your cloud documents in folders on the server. When viewing Your Files on the Photoshop Home screen, click the folder icon near the top to create a new folder.

   

   Tip

   If you want to manage or delete a cloud document, click the document’s ellipsis (…) button in the Your Files list on the Photoshop Home screen, and choose Rename, Delete, Make Available Offline Always, or Move.

2. Click 03WorkingCloud, the file you just saved. This downloads the file to your computer and opens it in Photoshop.

If you’re editing a Photoshop Cloud (PSDC) Document, how can you provide that file to a client who requires a PSD file? By saving the cloud document to your own local storage. Again, the conversion is automatic, so it’s easy and seamless.

1. Choose File > Save As. If you see the Cloud Documents dialog box, click Save On Your Computer at the bottom to see the conventional Save As dialog box. Notice that the filename extension is now .psd, because you are saving this document to your local storage, not Cloud Documents.

2. Name the document 03Working.psd, and save it into the Lesson03 folder. Now you have your own local PSD format copy that you can distribute and back up traditionally (without cloud services).

For this lesson, you can continue with your local copy (03Working.psd), or you can close the local PSD copy and instead open and work with your cloud documents copy (03WorkingCloud.psdc).

Using the Magic Wand tool

The Magic Wand tool selects pixels of a specific color or color range. It’s most useful when the color or tone of the area you want to select is distinct from its background.

The Tolerance option sets the range of tonal levels the Magic Wand tool selects, starting from the pixel you click. The default tolerance value of 32 selects the color you click plus 32 lighter and 32 darker tones of that color. If the Magic Wand tool doesn’t select the entire area you expect, try increasing the Tolerance value. If the tool selects too much, try decreasing the Tolerance value.

1. Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel, and then zoom in so that you can see the entire sand dollar in detail.

2. Select the Magic Wand tool (), hidden under the Object Selection tool ().

3. In the options bar, confirm that the Tolerance value is 32. This value determines the range of colors the wand selects.

4. Click the Magic Wand tool on the red background outside the sand dollar.

   

The Magic Wand tool perfectly selected the red background, because all of the colors in the background are similar enough to the pixel you clicked (within the 32 levels specified in the Tolerance setting). But it’s the shell we want, so let’s start over.

5. Choose Select > Deselect.

6. Position the Magic Wand tool over the sand dollar, and click.

Look carefully at the animated selection marquee that appears over the sand dollar. If this was a perfect selection, the selection marquee would tightly follow the outer edge of the sand dollar. But notice that some interior areas of the sand dollar show selection marquees, because their colors differ from the color you clicked by more than 32 levels (the Tolerance setting). The current selection isn’t working because it doesn’t include all interior colors.

When you want to select a subject that is mostly the same color and value, against a relatively solid background, you can often solve this by increasing the Tolerance value. But the more complex the subject or background, the more likely a wide Tolerance value will also select unwanted parts of the background. In that case, it’s usually better to use a different selection tool, such as the Quick Selection tool. You’ll do that next, but first let’s deselect the current selection.

7. Choose Select > Deselect.

Using the Quick Selection tool

To use the Quick Selection tool you simply click or drag it within a subject, and the tool looks for the subject’s edges. You can add or subtract areas of the selection until you have exactly the area you want. This works better than the Magic Wand tool because the Quick Selection tool is more aware of image content, instead of relying on color similarity alone. Let’s see if the Quick Selection tool does a better job selecting the sand dollar.

1. Select the Quick Selection tool () in the Tools panel. It’s grouped with the Object Selection tool () and Magic Wand tool ().

2. Select Enhance Edge in the options bar.

Selecting Enhance Edge should improve the quality of the selection, with edges that are truer to the object. If you’re using a slower or older computer, you might notice a slight delay when using Enhance Edge.

3. Click or drag within the sand dollar (do not cross over into the background).

   

The Quick Selection tool looks at what content is probably connected to the area where you clicked or dragged and finds the full edge automatically, selecting the entire sand dollar. The sand dollar is simple enough that the Quick Selection tool can isolate it instantly. When the Quick Selection tool doesn’t complete the selection initially, click or drag over areas you want to add to the selection.

Leave the selection active so that you can use it in the next exercise.

Moving a selected area

Once you’ve made a selection, any changes you make apply exclusively to the pixels within the selection. The rest of the image is not affected by those changes.

To move the selected area to another part of the composition, you use the Move tool. This image has only one layer, so the pixels you move will replace the pixels beneath them. This change is not permanent until you deselect the moved pixels, so you can try different locations for the selection you’re moving before you commit it.

1. If the sand dollar is not still selected, repeat the previous exercise to select it.

   Tip

   If you deselect an area by accident, you may be able to restore the selection by choosing Edit > Undo or Select > Reselect.

2. Zoom out so you can see both the shadow box and the sand dollar.

3. Select the Move tool (). Notice that the sand dollar remains selected.

4. Drag the selected area (the sand dollar) to the upper-left area of the frame, which is labeled “A.” Position it over the silhouette in the frame, leaving the lower-left part of the silhouette showing as a shadow.

5. Choose Select > Deselect, and then choose File > Save.

   

There’s more than one way to deselect a selection. You can choose Select > Deselect, press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (macOS), or click outside the selection with any selection tool.

Using the Object Selection tool

To use the Object Selection tool, all you have to do is draw a rough selection around the object you want to select, and the Object Selection tool identifies the object and creates a tight selection for it. For an object that has a complicated outline, such as the coral, the Object Selection tool will typically be much faster than trying to draw that irregular outline by hand.

1. Select the Object Selection tool (), which is grouped with the Quick Selection tool () and Magic Wand tool ().

2. Drag a selection around the piece of coral. It doesn’t have to be precise or centered. What’s important is that it’s a relatively tight selection with a small amount of space between the coral and the edges of the selection marquee. You’re simply showing Photoshop which object you want to select.

   

   Note

   A colored highlight may appear over an object when you hover over it with the Object Selection tool. The highlight indicates that it’s automatically identifying a potential selection. If the area you want to select is highlighted, just click.

The Object Selection tool analyzes the area inside the rectangular selection, finds the object, and creates a selection marquee along its complicated edge.

3. Select the Move tool (), and drag the coral to the area of the shadow box labeled “B,” positioning it so that a shadow appears to the left of and below the coral.

4. Choose Select > Deselect, and then save your work.

   

   Tip

   If the Object Selection tool creates a selection that’s too tight, choose Select > Modify > Expand and enter a pixel value; usually 1 to 3 is enough. As with other selection tools, you can add missed bits to the selection (by Shift-dragging the tool around the missed parts). Or subtract from the selection by holding down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) as you drag the tool around the area to remove.

Manipulating selections

You can move selections, reposition them as you create them, and even duplicate them. In this section, you’ll learn several ways to manipulate selections. Most of these methods work with any selection; you’ll use them here with the Elliptical Marquee tool, which lets you select ovals or perfect circles.

One of the most useful things you may find in this section is the introduction of modifier keys that can save you time and arm motions.

Selecting with the lasso tools

As we mentioned earlier, Photoshop includes three lasso tools: the Lasso tool, the Polygonal Lasso tool, and the Magnetic Lasso tool. You can use the Lasso tool to make selections that require both freehand and straight lines, using keyboard shortcuts to move back and forth between the Lasso tool and the Polygonal Lasso tool. You’ll use the Lasso tool to select the mussel. It takes a bit of practice to alternate between straight-line and freehand selections—if you make a mistake while you’re selecting the mussel, simply deselect and start again.

1. If the window magnification is below 100%, select the Zoom tool (), and click the mussel to zoom in to at least 100%.

2. Select the Lasso tool (). Starting at the lower-left section of the mussel, drag around the rounded end of the mussel, tracing the shape as accurately as possible. Do not release the mouse button.

   Tip

   Go slowly until you become comfortable with the Lasso tool. If you make a mistake or accidentally release the mouse button during steps 2–8, choose Edit > Undo, and start again at step 2.

3. When you reach a corner or straight part of the edge, press the Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) key, and then release the mouse button so that the lasso pointer changes to the polygonal lasso shape (). Do not release the Alt or Option key.

4. Begin clicking along the end of the mussel to place anchor points, following the contours of the mussel. Be sure to hold down the Alt or Option key throughout this process. This lets you create perfectly straight segments along the selection.

   

The selection border automatically stretches like a rubber band between anchor points.

5. When you reach the tip of the mussel, hold down the mouse button as you release the Alt or Option key. The pointer again appears as the lasso icon.

6. Carefully drag around the tip of the mussel, holding down the mouse button.

7. When you finish tracing the tip and reach the straight segments along the lower side of the mussel, first press Alt or Option again, and then release the mouse button. Click along the straight segments of the lower side of the mussel as needed. Continue to trace the straight and curved mussel edges until you arrive back at the starting point of your selection at the left end of the mussel.

8. Click the starting point of the selection, and then release Alt or Option. The mussel is now entirely selected. Leave the mussel selected for the next exercise.

   Note

   To make sure that the selection is the shape you want when you use the Lasso tool, end the selection by dragging across the starting point of the selection. If you start and stop the selection at different points, Photoshop draws a straight line between the start and end points of the selection.

   

Rotating a selection

Now you’ll rotate the mussel.

Before you begin, make sure that the mussel is still selected.

1. Choose View > Fit On Screen to resize the document window to fit on your screen.

2. Press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) as you drag the selected mussel to the section of the shadow box labeled “D.”

The pointer changes to the Move tool icon when you press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS).

3. Choose Edit > Transform > Rotate.

The mussel and selection marquee are enclosed in a bounding box.

4. Move the pointer outside the bounding box so that it becomes a curved, two-headed arrow (). Drag to rotate the mussel to a 90-degree angle. You can verify the angle in the transformation values display next to the pointer, or in the Rotate box in the options bar. Press Enter or Return to commit the transformation.

5. If necessary, select the Move tool (), and drag to reposition the mussel, leaving a shadow to match the others. When you’re satisfied, choose Select > Deselect.

   

6. Choose File > Save.

Selecting with the Magnetic Lasso tool

You can use the Magnetic Lasso tool to make freehand selections of areas with high-contrast edges. When you draw with the Magnetic Lasso tool, the selection border automatically snaps to the edge between areas of contrast. You can also control the selection path by occasionally clicking the mouse to place anchor points in the selection border.

You’ll use the Magnetic Lasso tool to select the nautilus so that you can move it to the shadow box.

1. Select the Zoom tool (), and click the nautilus to zoom in to at least 100%.

2. Select the Magnetic Lasso tool (), hidden under the Lasso tool ().

3. Click once along the left edge of the nautilus, and then move the Magnetic Lasso tool along the edge to trace its outline.

   Tip

   In low-contrast areas, you may want to click to place your own fastening points. You can add as many as you need. To remove the most recent fastening point, press Delete, and then move the mouse back to the remaining fastening point and continue selecting.

   

Even if you don’t hold down the mouse button, the tool snaps to the edge of the nautilus and automatically adds fastening points.

4. When you reach the left side of the nautilus again, double-click to return the Magnetic Lasso tool to the starting point, closing the selection. Or you can move the Magnetic Lasso tool over the starting point and click once.

   

5. Double-click the Hand tool () to fit the entire image in the window.

   

6. Select the Move tool (), and drag the nautilus onto its silhouette in the section of the frame labeled “E,” leaving a shadow below it and on the left side.

7. Choose Select > Deselect, and then choose File > Save.

Selecting from a center point

In some cases, it’s easier to make elliptical or rectangular selections by drawing a selection from an object’s center point. You’ll use this technique to select the head of the screw for the shadow box corners.

1. Select the Zoom tool (), and zoom in on the screw to a magnification of about 300%. Make sure that the entire screw head is visible in your document window.

2. Select the Elliptical Marquee tool () in the Tools panel.

3. Move the pointer to the approximate center of the screw.

4. Click and begin dragging. Then, without releasing the mouse button, press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) as you continue dragging the selection to the outer edge of the screw.

The selection is centered over its starting point.

5. When you have the entire screw head selected, release the mouse button first, and then release Alt or Option (and the Shift key if you used it). Do not deselect, because you’ll use this selection in the next exercise.

   

6. If necessary, reposition the selection border using one of the methods you learned earlier. If you accidentally released the Alt or Option key before you released the mouse button, select the screw again.

Resizing and copying a selection

Now you’ll move the screw to the lower-right corner of the wooden shadow box and then duplicate it for the other corners.

Cropping an image

Now that your composition is in place, you’ll crop the image to a final size. You can use either the Crop tool or the Crop command to crop an image.

1. Select the Crop tool (), or press C to switch from the current tool to the Crop tool. Photoshop displays a crop boundary around the entire image.

2. In the options bar, make sure Ratio is selected in the Preset pop-up menu and that there are no ratio values specified. (If there are, click Clear.) Then confirm that Delete Cropped Pixels is selected.

When Ratio is selected but no ratio values are specified, you can freely crop the image to any proportions.

3. Drag the crop handles so that the shadow box is in the highlighted area, omitting the backgrounds from the original objects at the bottom of the image. Crop the frame so that there’s an even area of white around it.

   Tip

   To crop an image with its original proportions intact, choose Original Ratio from the Preset pop-up menu in the options bar.

   

4. When you’re satisfied with the position of the crop area, click the Commit Current Crop Operation button () in the options bar.

5. Choose File > Save to save your work.

   

You’ve used several different selection tools to move all the seashells into place. The shadow box is complete!