Today we are going to learn how to use the most common Selection tools in Photoshop. This will help you manage yourself better in the program. In a previous post, in Video-Tutorial: How to make a moving banner in Photoshop easily we saw how to develop a banner with Photoshop quickly.
Let's go to the nougat.
I) We open a new file. We press CNTRL + N or the path File- New and we enter the dialog box. We choose a preset for Web.
II) We open a photo. I have chosen one from a Leopard.
III) To get to know little by little the Selection tools that Photoshop offers us, we will try one by one in this photo, or in the photo you want.
IV) First we go to the Rectangle Marquee Toolr, and we right click on the little arrow in the lower right corner. We will get a table with the rest of the tools that this group hides.
V) We choose the Rectangular Marquee tool. We bite with right click on the screen and we will see how we can choose a selection shaped like a square.
VI) If we hold down the shift key or Alt, It will change to make squares and keep the proportions. If we press the uppercase key when the selection is made, you can add surface to it and if you press alt remove it. You can also try pressing both when with the selection already made.
VII) We go to the toolbar and select the Elliptical Marquee tool from the group where the Rectangular Marquee tool was.
VIII) To deselect the area you have now press CNTRL + D.
IX) Click on the photo and use the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Use the same combinations that you did with the Rectangular Marquee Tool with the Shift and Alt keys. With the selection made and without making.
X) These two tools have above in the toolbox of the upper column a option named Style. This option is used to mark fixed proportions and sizes as with the Shift and Alt keys.
XI) Of the rest of the tools of that group, Single Row and Single Row Column they lay down a single row. Horizontally or vertically across the entire image. Its usefulness a priori seems very limited, however you never know when it will be needed.
XII) We move on to the next group of selection tools, ties.
XIII) We choose first the normal loop, which will help us to make Freehand Selections, having the options of adding and subtracting to the selection both in the keyboard shortcuts and in the tool options box at the top.
XIV) With this Bow we can close Select easily, we just need a pulse. Ideal for working with a Graphic Tablet.
XV) In the same Group is the tool Polygonal Lasso, which allows us to make selections using straight lines and points. As always, you have the options of Add and Subtract to the selection both in the keyboard shortcut and in the tool0 options box at the top.
XVI) Now we go to that group of tools, the ties, and choose the Magnetic Loop.
XVII) The Magnetic Loop We are going through the border of the figure on which we want to execute the selection and it will go around it by itself, installing points by itself or being able to add points with the right click. If you want to get rid of the last point, you just have to hit the Delete key.
XVIII) As in the others Selection tools, you have the options Add or Subtract, make intersection, and then a series of options that are:
- Width: Specifies the width in pixels that Photoshop will search for edges.
- Contrast: Indicates the degree of contrast that Photoshop has to find to insert an anchor point. The higher the number, the stronger the edge contrast will have to be for it to be considered as such.
- Lineatura: It is the interval in which anchor points will be placed.
XIX) Now we go to the group of Quick selection tools, that apart from the Magic wand includes the Quick Selection tool.
XX) To select with the Photoshop Magic Wand just click on the desired area of the image. Automatically all the pixels that match the color of the first selected pixel will be selected, which is the one Photoshop has taken as a sample.
XXI) Selection with the Wand it may be more or less accurate depending on the image tones and the option settings. In the options box Tools which is at the top, we will find different options such as:
o Tolerance: It is the degree of color similarity that Photoshop has to find to select or not a pixel. The lower the number, the fewer pixels the selection will include. A high number increases the range of colors in the selection.
o Adjacent: If the button is selected, only those contiguous pixels that fall within the range marked by the tolerance will be selected. Disabling will select pixels anywhere in the image.
o Smooth: Makes the selection transition less abrupt, softening its edges.
o Sample all layers: If this option is checked, the selection will be made in all layers regardless of the active layer.
XXII) The Photoshop Quick Selection tool it is one of the most interesting. With it we can make complex selections in Photoshop comfortably and easily. Use the Quick Selection tool it is similar to painting, but the end result is a selection.
o Brush The brush will determine the behavior of the quick selection tool. Its size and shape will be essential to take advantage of all the possibilities.
o Sample all layers: If we check this option, what is chosen in all the layers will be selected.
o Automatically upgrade: Softens the edges and improves the precision of the frame.
XXIII) To use the tool it will be enough to have it selected and paint on the image. Photoshop will select the area on which we click and take it as a reference. This will add all similar areas to the selection.
XXIV) In the next tutorial we will explain the use of the Refine Edge tool. Thank you very much and greetings.