Mastering the Art of Selection Introduction
What You'll Do
Mastering Adobe Photoshop requires skill in many diverse areas. While modifying an image's color, enhancing an old photograph, or removing dust and scratches may require different skills, they have one common thread-selection. Without a selection, any changes you apply are made to the whole image. For example, if you choose to paint a black stroke, you would select the Paintbrush tool, choose the color black, and begin painting. Photoshop will let you apply black paint to any and all portions of the image. Selections are your way to instruct Photoshop what portions of the active document you want to change and which you want to protect from change.
Usethe RectangularMarqueeTool
The Marquee tools are considered Photoshop's "good old" selection tools. In fact they've been a part of Photoshop since the early days. Where the marquee tools let you select areas of an image in a structured way (using squares, circles, lines), the lasso tools add a bit of freeform selection to the mix. Lasso tools require a certain amount of hand/eye coordination. For example, you can use the lasso tool to create a customized selection area around just about any object in a document, be it an animal, vegetable, or mineral. It just requires a good eye, a steady hand, and a really big mouse pad (I hate it when I run out of mouse pad). Creating a selection lets you influence a specific area of the image. For example, If you are changing the color of a car from red to blue, this is where making a selection really shines. When you select an area of a Photoshop document, the selection becomes the work area-filters, adjustments, and brushes will only work within the selection boundary. Since selection is such an important aspect of controlling what happens in a document, Photoshop gives you many ways to create your desired selection. Mastering the art of selection gives you control over not just what you do, but where you do it.
Usethe Elliptical MarqueeTool Usethe Single RowandSingleColumn MarqueeTools Usethe LassoMarqueeTool Usethe Magnetic LassoTool Usethe PolygonalLassoTool Usethe Quick SelectionTool Usethe Magic WandTool Select by ColorRange Refinea SelectionEdge Modify an ExistingSelection Work with an ExistingSelection Copyand Pastea Selection UseChannelsto Createand StoreSelections UseFreeTransformandTransform Usethe CropTool Usethe PerspectiveCropTool UseContent-AwareScalingor Fill UseContent-AwarePatchor Move UsePuppetWarp
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Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool
The Rectangular Marquee tool lets you create rectangular and square selection marquees. The Rectangular Marquee tool is excellent for a quick crop, or selecting and moving blocks of image information. Select the Rectangular Marquee tool on the tool box from the available Marquee options, and then drag the tool using the mouse (or drawing tablet) to control your movements. To further control a selection, hold down the Shift key to produce a perfect square, and hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key to create a selection marquee that starts from the center and moves outwards. Releasing the mouse instructs the Rectangular Marquee tool to create the selection.
Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool
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Select the Rectangular Marquee tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired.
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Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with a selection. Enter a numerical value (0 to 1000) in the Feather box to create a feathered selection edge or click the Refine Edge box to visually fine-tune your feather size. Click the Style list arrow, and then select from the available styles:
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Normal. Lets you create freeform rectangular, or square marquee selections. Fixed Ratio. Lets you create selections using a specific ratio, such as a 2 to 1 ratio. Enter the Fixed Ratio values in the Width and Height boxes. Fixed Size. Lets you create selections based on an absolute size such as 30 pixels by 90 pixels. Enter the Fixed Size values in the Width and Height boxes. Drag the selection area; the cursor displays width and height.
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For Your Information Selecting Areas for a Standard Monitor If you are selecting areas of an image and plan to display them on a standard monitor (not DVDl,then click the FixedAspect Ratio option on the Options bar, and then enter a width value of 4, and a height value of 3, Since a normal computer monitor (regardless of resolution) has a 4 by 3 ratio, then the selection you make will fit a computer monitor perfectly,
Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool
The Elliptical Marquee tool lets you create oval or circular selection marquees. When used with the Layer Mask option, and a couple of creative filters, you can create some awesome vignettes. Select the Elliptical Marquee tool on the toolbox from the available Marquee options, move into the document, and then drag with the tool using the mouse to control your movements. To further control a selection, hold down the Shift key to produce a perfect circle, and hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key to create a selection marquee that starts from the center and moves outwards. Releasing the mouse instructs the Elliptical Marquee tool to create the selection.
Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool •
Select the Elliptical Marquee tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with a selection.
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Enter a numerical value (0 to 1000) in the Feather option to create a feathered selection edge or click the Refine Edge box to visually fine-tune your feather size.
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Select the Anti-alias check box to create a softer selection. Click the Style list arrow, and then select from the available styles:
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Normal; Lets you create freeform elliptical or circular marquee selections. Fixed Ratio. Lets you create selections using a specific ratio. Enter the Fixed Ratio values in the Width and Height boxes.
Fixed Size. Lets you create selections based on an absolute size. Enter the Fixed Size values in the Width and Height boxes. Drag the selection area; the cursor displays width and height. Chapter 4
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Using the Single Row and Single Column Marquee Tools
The Single Row/Single Column Marquee tools let you create a l-pixel wide horizontal or vertical selection. Select the Single Row or Single Column Marquee tool on the tool box from the available Marquee options, and then click the tool within the active document to create a single-pixel horizontal or vertical selection. To move the selection, place your cursor on the selection; when you see the cursor change to an arrow, then click and drag. Release the mouse when you have the selection correctly positioned. For precise positioning, press the arrow keys to move the selection 1 pixel at a time.
Use the Single Row and Column Marquee Tool Select the Single Row Marquee or Single Column Marquee tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with a selection.
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Did You Know? The Column Marquee tools don't have an Anti-Alias option, The reason is that a monitor displays digital information using pixels. Since the pixels fit together just like bricks in a wall, and the Column Marquee tools can only draw vertical or horizontal lines, there is no need to make them look smoother because they're following the horizontal and vertical lines of the pixels.
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For Your Information Creating Customized Guides Have you ever needed a 45-degree angled guideline? Create a new layer, select the single row (or column) marquee tool, and then click to create a selection in the active document. Now, select black (or any other color) and press Alt-Backspaca (Win) or Option-Delete (Mac) to fill the l-pixel selection with the default color. Click the Edit menu, point to Transform, and then click Rotate. Enter a value of 45 in the Angle option on the Options bar and then you'll have an instant 45-degree guide. Since the guide is in a separate layer, you can use the Move tool to reposition it anywhere it's needed.
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Using the Lasso Marquee Tool
The Lasso Marquee is a freeform tool that requires a bit of hand-to-eye coordination. Select the Lasso tool on the tool box from the available Lasso options, move into the active document, and then drag the tool, using the mouse (or drawing tablet) to control your movements. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then drag to draw straightline segments. Releasing the mouse instructs the Lasso tool to close the selection shape. That's all there is to it. I did mention that it requires good hand-to-eye coordination, didn't I? When you use this tool, don't drink too much coffee, and have a really big mouse pad.
Use the Lasso Marquee Tool Select the Lasso tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with an existing selection. Enter a numerical value (0 to 1000) in the Feather box to create a feathered selection edge or click the Refine Edge box to visually fine-tune your feather size.
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Select the Anti-alias check box to create a softer selection (useful with intensely rounded or curved selections). Drag the selection area you want.
Did You Know? You can temporarily convert the Lasso tool into a straight-line drawing tool (called the Polygonal Lasso tool). Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, then release the mouse, move to a different area of the document window and click to draw a straight line between the two points.
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Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool
Use the Magnetic Lasso Tool Select the Magnetic Lassotool on the toolbox. Click the Preset Tool list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with an existing selection. Enter a numerical value (0 to 1000) in the Feather box to create a feathered selection edge or click the Refine Edge box to visually fine-tune your feather size. Select the Anti-alias check box to create a softer selection (useful with intensely rounded or curved selections). Enter a Width value (0 to 256)to instruct the Magnetic Lasso tool how many pixels to consider for the edge.
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The Magnetic Lasso creates a selection by following along the edge of a visible object. For example, it will follow around the edge of a building set against a bright blue sky. In reality there are no edges in a photographic document, so the tool follows along the shifts of brightness created when one tonal value is next to another. Select the Magnetic Lasso tool in the toolbox from the available Lasso options. Click on the visible edge of an object within your image, and then move (don't drag) around the object. The Magnetic Lasso will follow the visible edge of the object, occasionally adding anchor points to the line as you move. Clicking the starting point or double-clicking the mouse not at the starting point instructs the Magnetic Lasso tool to close the selection shape.
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Enter an Edge Contrast value (1% to 100%) to instructthe Magnetic Lasso how much of a shift in the brightness values to use in determining the edge .
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Enter a Frequency value (0 to 100) to instruct the Magnetic Lasso where points are added to the selection line .
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Click once to create an anchor point, and then move the pointer along the edge you want to trace. If the border doesn't snap to the desired edge, click once to add a anchor point manually. Continue to trace the edge, and add anchor points as needed. Double-click or click the starting point to complete the selection.
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Did You Know? You can remove anchor points. When you're using the Magnetic Lasso tool and you want to reverse the selection, simply backtrack the mouse all the way back to the last anchor point. To move even farther backwards, press the Backspace (Win) or Delete (Mac) key to remove the last anchor. You can temporarily use the Magnetic Lasso too/ as a freeform Lasso tool. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then drag to draw. Release the mouse to return to the Magnetic Lasso tool.
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Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool
Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool
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Select the Polygonal lasso tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with an existing selection. Enter a numerical value (0 to 1000) in the Feather box to create a feathered selection edge or click the Refine Edge box to visually fine-tune your feather size.
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Select the Anti-alias check box to create a softer selection (useful with intensely rounded or curved selections). Click to create anchor points, and then double-click or click the starting point to complete the selection.
Did You Know? You can temporarily use the Polygonal Lasso tool as a freeform Lasso tool. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then drag to draw. Release the mouse to return to the Polygonal Lasso tools.
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The Polygonal Lasso creates straight-line selections, perfect for creating a selection around a windowpane or the roofline of a house. Select the Polygonal Lasso tool in the toolbox from the available Lasso options, and click to create a point; then, move and click to create straight lines between the two points. Keep clicking and moving your mouse until the desired selection shape appears. Clicking the starting point or double-clicking the mouse not at the starting point instructs the Polygonal Lasso tool to close the selection shape.
Using the Quick Selection Tool
The Quick Selection tool makes it easier to select the areas of an image you want. Simply paint a loose selection using an adjustable round brush tip to select the area you want. As you paint with the Quick Selection tool, the selection expands outward and automatically finds and follows defined edges in the image. You can also enable the AutoEnhance option to reduce roughness and pixelation in the selection edge.
Use the Quick Selection Tool Select the Quick Selection tool on the toolbox. Click the Tool Preset list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired. Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to/subtract from an existing selection. Click the Brush list arrow, and then select the brush options you want: Size, Hardness, Spacing, Angle, Roundness, along with choices for using pen pressure or stylus wheel. Select the Sample All Layers check box to create a selection based on all layers, not just the currently selected one. Select the Auto-Enhance check box to reduce roughness and pixelation in the selection edge. Paint with the Quick Selection tool to create the selection you want.
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Press the right bracket (]) or left bracket ([) to increase or decrease the Quick Selection tool brush size.
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Using the Magic Wand Tool
The Magic Wand tool (so named since it looks like a magic wand) is unique in the fact that you do not drag and select with this tool; you simply click. The Magic Wand tool creates a selection based on the shift in brightness ranges within an image. If there is a definable shift in the brightness of the pixels, it can be a very powerful tool for the selection of odd-shaped areas. For example, a brightly colored sunflower contrasted with a bright blue sky would be a snap for the Magic Wand tool. To use the Magic Wand, click on the Magic Wand Tool button in the toolbox. Sometimes it's easier to select what you don't want. In this example, the blue sky was selected and removed. However, you might have wanted to select the sunflower, and move it into another image. If that's the case, it is still easier to select the sky using the Magic Wand, click the Select menu, and then click Inverse to reverse the selection.
Use the Magic Wand Tool
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Select the Magic Wand tool on the toolbox. Use the Preset Tool list arrow, and then select from the available tool presets, if desired . Use the selection options on the Options bar to create a new selection, or add to, subtract from, or intersect with an existing selection. Click the Sample Size list arrow, and then select the number of pixels to sample . Enter a Tolerance value (0 to 255). The higher the value, the more information the Magic Wand tool selects. Select the Anti-alias check box to create a softer selection (useful with intensely rounded or curved selections). Select the Contiguous check box to select adjacent pixels within the active document. Select the Sample All Lavers check box to sample image information from all layers. Click an area to make a selection.
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Results of the Magic Wand tool
Selecting by Color Range
Photoshop can help you select image information based on a color range. Maybe it's that bright red car in the background, the white stucco finish on a house, or skin tones on a face. It doesn't matter, because you can choose the colors (including sampled colors, highlights, midtones (medium brightness), shadows, skin tones, or out-of-gamut), and the maximum range you want to select. The image displayed in the Color Range dialog box becomes a mix of black and white. The white areas represent the selected portions of the image, while the black areas represent the masked portions. If you want to reuse settings, you can save them as a preset and then load later (New!).
Selection by Calor Range Click the Select menu, click Color Range, and then select an option:
Select. Lets you choose Sampled Colors, a specific color, Highlights, Midtones, Shadows, Skin Tones, or Out of Gamut colors.
Detect Faces. Select to detect faces for skin tone selection.
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Selection or Image. View the Selection Mask or the Image.
Selection Preview. Changes the view of the image in the document window. Select None, Grayscale, Black Matte, White Matte, or Quick Mask. Click an eyedropper tool to add to or subtract from colors in the selection, and then click within the image. Select the Invert check box to reverse the Selection Mask. Click OK to turn the color range information into a selection.
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Refining a Selection Edge
Use the Refine Edge Tool
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Use one of the selection tools to make a selection.
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Click Refine Edge on the Options bar, or click the Select menu, and then click Refine Edge.
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To change the view size or position, use the Zoom or Hand tools.
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To change the view modes, click a Selection View list arrow, and then select a view.
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Show Radius. Select to view by the radius-defined selection.
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Show Original. Select to view by the original selection.
Specify an edge detection option. Smart Radius. Select to automatically apply the best radius to create an accurate selection. Radius. Drag the slider to specify the size of the selection. Increase to create a more exact selection.
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After you make the initial selection, you can use the Refine Edge tool to fine-tune the selection to your exact specifications. The Refine Edge tool is useful for selecting elements with different edge types. For example, you can select the edge around a ship in the ocean and then place it in front of a different background. With the Smart Radius and Decontaminate Colors options you can create precise selections for complex elements. Smart Radius helps detect edges to automatically create the best selection, while Decontaminate Colors removes the background color around the edge. If the selection is not quite right, you can use the Refine Radius and Erase Refinements tools to expand the selection or restore it back to the original selection. These tools also work well with the Decontaminate Colors option to remove residual background color from around the edges of a selection. In addition, you can make edge adjustments using the following slider options: Radius, Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge. As you work with a selection, you can change the view mode to preview the selection against different backgrounds-such as overlay, on black or white, or on layers-in order to fine-tune it.
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To refine the selection, use any of the following tools: Refine Ed e
Refine Radius Tool. Select and drag to expand the selection area.
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Erase Refinements Tool. Select and drag to restore the original selection edge.
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Drag the sliders to adjust the edge of the selection. Smooth. Smooths out the rough edges of the selection (0-100). Feather. Creates a soft edge around the selection (0-1000 px), Contrast. Sharpens the selection edges and removes fuzziness. Shift Edge. Decreases or increases the selection edge. Click the Output To list arrow, and then select an option, such as Selection, Layer Mask, or New Document.
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Modifying an Existing Selection
To say that Photoshop helps you make selections easily would be an understatement. Not only can you modify selections in any number of ways, Photoshop gives you the option to change your mind by adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting with an existing selection or even using the selection tools to crop the image. Since most selections are not perfect the first time around, knowing how to modify a selection marquee gives you the control you need to make perfect selections. Adding to and subtracting from an image is accomplished by simple keyboard shortcuts, or by using button on the Options bar. Either way, you can create complex selections with ease.
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Create a selection using any of the selection tools. Add to the selection by holding down the Shift key, and then use a selection tool to add to the existing selection (the selected areas do not need to be contiguous) . â&#x20AC;˘
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Instead of pressing a key, you can also use the Add to Selection button on the Options bar.
Release the mouse and the Shift key to complete the addition.
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You can quickly crop an image based on a selection. With a selection, you can use the Crop command on the Image menu to quickly change the size of an image.
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Subtract from an Existing Selection
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Create a selection using any of the selection tools. Subtract from the selection by holding down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key. â&#x20AC;˘
Instead of pressing a key, you can also use the Subtract from Selection button on the Options bar.
Create a selection that intersects with the existing selection. Release the mouse and the keys to complete the subtraction.
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Create a selection using any of the selection tools. Intersect the selection by holding down the Shitt-Alt (Win) or Shift-Dption (Mac) key. Instead of pressing keys, you can also use the Intersect with Selection button on the Options bar. Create a selection that intersects with the existing selection. Release the mouse and the keys to complete the intersection.
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Working with an Existing Selection
Selections can be as simple as dragging a circle or square with one of the marquee tools or choosing one or more layers or as complicated as a freeform selection. Whatever the case, Photoshop allows you to enhance any selection with its useful modification tools. After creating a selection, you can modify it with the various options that Photoshop offers in order to make complex selections easier to use.
Work with an Existing Selection
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Create a selection, click the Select menu, and then select an option:
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All. Selects all document pixels. Deselect or Reselect. Removes the active selection or recreates the last active selection. Inverse. Lets you reverse the previous selection. All layers. Lets you select all the layers in the Layers panel (excluding the Background).
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Deselect layers. Deselects all layers in the Layers panel. Find layers. Find layers: all type layers, or all shape layers.
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Isolate layers. Displays only the selected layers (New!). Color Range. Creates a selection from a color range.
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Modify. Lets you modify the Border, Expand, Contract, or Smooth the selection.
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Grow. Lets you increase a selection by adding pixels.
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Similar. Lets you increase a selection by adding noncontiguous pixels. Transform Selection. Creates a bounding box around the active selection that you can modify. Edit in Ouick Mask Mode. View selection in Quick Mask Mode.
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Redefine Edge. Creates a selection from a complex image.
load or Save Selection. Lets you load or save a previously saved channel mask selection. New 3D Extrusion. Creates a 3D extrusion from the selection.
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Copying and Pasting a Selection
After you make a selection in a Photoshop document, you can copy or cut it to the Clipboard where you can paste it to another place in your active document or in another document. The Copy, Cut and Paste commands have been around for a long time; however, Photoshop has added some variation to them. You can use the Paste Special menu to provide more direction to the paste location by using the Paste In Place, Paste Into, and Paste Outside commands. If the content of the Clipboard doesn't contain pixels from a Photoshop document, the special paste commands work just like the Paste command.
Copy or Cut and Paste Select an area of an image using any of the selection tools in a Photoshop document. Click the Edit menu, and then click Copy (active layer), or Copy Merged (all layers), or Cut (move). Use any of the following paste commands:
Paste. Pastes the selection as a new layer. Click the Edit menu, and then click Paste. Paste In Place. Pastes selection into the same relative location between source and destination documents. Click the Edit menu, point to Paste Special, and then click Paste In Place.
TIMESAVER Press Shift+Ctrl+V (Win) or Shift~+V (Mac). Paste Into or Paste Outside. Pastes the selection inside or outside a selection. This adds a layer and layer mask. The selection is unmasked (white), while the rest of the layer is masked (black). Select a destination, click the Edit menu, point to Paste Special, and then click Paste Into or Paste
Outside. TIMESAVER For Paste Into, press Alt+Shift+Ctrl+V (Win) or Option+Shift~+V (Mac).
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Using Channels to Create and Store Selections
Photoshop's primary method of creating selections is through the use of tools from the tool box, such as the Marquee, Lasso, and Magic Wand, and while they create impressive and complex selections, Photoshop has other ways to capture that tricky selection using the Channels panel. The Channels panel primarily holds color information, but that's not all it can hold. You can use the Channels panel to create and store complex selections. Photoshop holds selection information using black (masked), white (selected), and shades of gray (percentages of selection). In addition, channels can be saved with the image file.
Create Selections with Channels Select the Channels panel. Click the individual color channels. Look for a channel that represents a brightness difference between what you want to select and what you want to mask. Make a copy of the channel by dragging it down over the New Channel button on the Channels panel. Select the new channel.
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Drag the Threshold slider left or right until the visible image represents a black and white mask of your selection. Click OK.
Did Vou Know? Selection masks created from color channels will not always be perfect.
For example, you may see unwanted spots of white or black. When that happens, do the best you can using the Threshold command, and then paint with white or black to clean up the mask.
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Save a Selection to a New or Existing Channel Use a selection tool to select the image area you want to save.
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Click the Select menu, and then click Save Selection. Click the Document list arrow, and then select a destination image for the selection. Click the Channel list arrow, and then select a destination channel for the selection. If you select a new channel, type a name for the channel. If you select an existing channel, select a combine method:
Replace Channel. Replaces the current selection.
Add to Channel. Adds the selection.
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Subtract From Channel. Removes the selection.
Intersect With Channel. Keeps intersecting areas of selection. Click OK. Subtract from Channel Intersect
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Apply Selection Masks to an Image Click the Select menu, and then click Load Selection.
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Using Free Transform and Transform
Use the Free Transform Command
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Select an area of an image using any of the selection tools. Click the Edit menu, and then click Free Transform. Move to any of the four corners, and then drag to resize the selection; the cursor displays width and height. Move outside the bounding box selection until your cursor resembles a curved arrow, and then drag to rotate the selection. You can also drag the horizontal or vertical nodes to expand the image .
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Press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac). or double-click inside the bounding box to apply the transformation.
Did You Know? You can create proportional transform boundaries. Holding down the Shift key
while dragging a corner handle maintains the proportions of the image. You can use the Free Transform command to create distorted images.
Hold down the Ctrl (Win) or ~ (Mac) key,while dragging a corner handle to create a distorted selection.
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Once a selection is made, the next step is to get to work. Selections are not just useful for correcting color or for image enhancement. It's possible you may need to use some of Photoshop's transform commands on your selections before making further modifications. The Transform commands let you move, modify, or resize the area enclosed within the selection area. Unlike the Free Transform command, Transform gives you several options, such as Scale, Distort, Perspective, and Warp, which you can use to modify an existing selection. The selection area is visually defined by a bounding box with nodes, or anchor points, in the four corners and the center of each axis.
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Use the Transform Command
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Select an area of an image using any of the selection tools. Click the Edit menu, point to Transform, and then select an
,
option:
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Cut Copy Copy M.rg.d Past. Past. Special Clear
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Check Sp.llmg ... Find and Replace Text
Again. Lets you repeat the previous Transform command.
•
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Fill... Strok •...
Scale. Lets you increase or decrease the size of the selected area.
Content-Aware Puppet Warp Fre. Transform
Scale
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Rotate. Lets you rotate the
Ag. n Auto-Ahgn Lay.rs Auto-Blend Layers.
selection area 0 to 360 degrees.
Skew. Lets you select a node and drag it in a vertical or horizontal direction without affecting the other nodes.
D.fine Brush Preset ... Defin. Pattern ... Define Custom Shape
Distort. Lets you select a node and drag it in any direction desired without affecting the other nodes.
Perspective. Lets you change the perspective of a selection.
•
Purge Adobe PDF Presets ... Pr.s.ts Remote Connections ...
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Col or Settings ... Assign Profil e.; Convert to Profil •... K.yboard M.nus...
Shortcuts...
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Scale Rotate Skew Distort Pers pectlve Warp Rotate 180· Rotate 90· CW Rotate 90· CCW
Additional transform commands
Flip Horizontal Flip V.rtical
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Warp. Lets you wrap an image around any shape using a modifiable grid. To warp an image using a specific shape, click the Warp Style list arrow on the Options bar, and then select a shape, such as Twist, Flag, Fisheye, or Inflate.
Grid
Warp
TIMESAVER Toshow or hide the warp grid and anchor points, click the View menu, and then click Extras. Select any settings you want on the Options bar and modify the transformed image as desired using the handles, anchor points, a segment of the bounding box or grid, or an area within the grid. As you drag, the cursor displays width/height, xly coordinates, or angle values.
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Using the Crop Tool
Cropping eliminates distractions, which would otherwise take away from the image. For example, you take a photo of an insect on a flower. To increase the focus on the insect, then crop out the flower. With the nondestruct Crop tool, you can specify a cropping area from a preset (New!) or manually create or adjust it. You can specify a size (width and height) and resolution or aspect ratio, and then use a cropping shield-area outside the crop-and guide overlay-perspective guides-to crop it or keep the original intact. You can also change the crop area orientation by swapping crop values (New!) or straighten the image with a line. If you want to create a quick crop, make a selection, and then use the Crop command on the Image menu.
Crop a Selection Select the Crop tool on the toolbox.
Dragto resizecroppingarea
Drag a selection around the area of the image you want to crop or use the one given on the edges. To adjust the selection, drag a selection handle. • To set the crop to a specific size, click the Aspect Ratio list arrow, and then select a preset size (New!), either a ratio or W x H x Resolution. To set a custom crop area, enter the aspect ratio or Width and Height in pixels and a Resolution (Newl) in ppi.
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• To swap crop values, click the Double-Arrow button (Newl). •
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To clear crop values, click the Clear button (New!). To create a preset, click the Cropping Area list arrow, and then click New Crop Preset.
To straighten the image, click the Straighten button on the Options bar, and then draw a line as a reference to straighten it. Click the Overlay list arrow on the Options bar, and then select a crop guide overlay display option: Auto Show Overlay, Always Show Overlay, or Never Show Overlay. Chapter 4
For Your Information Cropping Two Images to the Same Size You can use the image size from one image as the cropping size for another image. Openthe image you want to use as the size, click the Crop tool on the tool box, click the Aspect Ratio list arrow, and then click Front Image (which sets the crop area values). or press I (New!) as a shortcut. Click the Cancel button or press Esc. Switch to the other image, which applies the set crop values to the active image. Click the Commit button or press Enter.
Click the Overlay list arrow on the Options bar, and then select a crop guide overlay option: Rule of
Thirds, Grid, Diagonal, Triangle, Golden Ratio, or Golden Spiral. •
Cycle Overlay. Click command on View list arrow or press 0 to cycle through overlays.
Click the Settings button on the Options bar, and then specify any of the following:
•
Use Classic Mode. Select to move and rotate crop selection instead of image.
Auto Center Preview. Select to keep crop selection
centered.
Show Cropped Area. Select to show cropped area outside of the crop selection. To display a shield in the cropped area, click the Settings button on the Options bar, select the Shield check box, and then specify the following:
•
Color. Select a shield color. Opacity. Specify a shield transparency percentage. Auto Adjust Opacity. Select to
o
automatically reduce shield opacity on mouse down. Select the Delete Cropped Pixels check box to delete any connected pixel data outside the crop selection. Deselect (default) to keep it; it allows you to keep the original image intact. Click the Reset, Commit, or Cancel button to reset, keep, or cancel the change.
I
For Your Information Cropping an Image with a User-Defined Shape You can crop an image using a user-defined shape, such as a heart. Select the Custom Shape tool on the tool box, and then select a shape on the Options bar. Create a new layer directly above the image layer, and draw the cropping shape. Select the Shape option from the list arrow on the Options bar. Select the Move tool and place the shape directly over the area you want to crop. In the Layers panel, drag the shape layer directly under the image layer (shape disappears), and then point to the line separating the image layer from the shape layer. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click to create a clipping group and crop to the shape. To make the crop permanent, hide all layers except the shape and image layers, click the Options button on the Layers panel, and then click Merge Visible.
With the Crop tool still selected, you can adjust the crop more.
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Using the Perspective Crop Tool
Perspective Crop a Selection
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Select the Perspective Crop tool on the toolbox. Drag a selection around the area of the image you want to perspective crop.
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When you release the mouse, a perspective grid cropping area appears as an overlay. Drag a square handle to adjust the perspective grid cropping area.
•
o
Center Point. Drag the center point to change the perspective.
Specify any of the following settings on the Options bar:
• Width and Height. Enter a specific width and height, if desired.
•
Resolution. Enter a resolution value for the image, if desired, and then select a unit value: Pixels/in or Pixels/cm.
•
Front Image. Click to use values for width, height, and resolution from the front image.
•
Clear. Click to clear the width, height, and resolution values.
Show Grid. Select to show or hide the perspective grid cropping area . •
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To rotate the cropping area, drag outside the cropping area. Click the Commit or Cancel button to keep, or cancel the change.
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In addition to the Crop tool, you can also use the Perspective Crop tool on the toolbox. The Perspective Crop tool allows you to create a cropping area with a perspective view. When you accept the perspective cropping area, Photoshop crops the image and applies the perspective to it. If you know the width, height and resolution you want to use or if you want to pick up the information from the front image, you can specify the settings you want on the Options bar.
Using Content-Aware Scaling
The Content-Aware Scale command allows you to resize an image without affecting important parts of the image, such as people, buildings, etc. When you normally scale an image, all the pixels in the image are affected. With Content-Aware scaling, only the pixels in non-important areas are affected. You can upscale or downscale images to fit them on a page or change the orientation. If you want to preserve specific areas of an image, you can use an alpha channel to protectthe selected area.
Use Content-Aware Scaling Open a document with the image that you want to scale. To protect content when scaling, select the area that you want to protect using any selection tool. If you're scaling a Background layer, click the Select menu, and then click All. Click the Edit menu, and then click Content-Aware Scale. Use any of the following: Reference Point Location. Click a square to select a scale point. Relative Positioning for Reference Point. Click to specify a new position in relation to its current position. Image Size. Enter specific sizes. Scaling Percentage. Enter specific percentages for scaling.
Background layer
Amount. Specify a ratio of content-aware scaling to normal scaling. Protect. Select an alpha channel that specifies an area to protect. Protect Skin Tones. Click to preserve areas with skin tones.
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Drag a handle on the bounding box to scale the image. Use the Shift key to scale proportionately. Click the Commit or Cancel button to keep or cancel the change.
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Using Content-Aware Fill
The Content-Aware Fill option with the Spot Healing Brush tool or in the Fill dialog box allows you to replace content in a selection. This is useful when you want to remove an unwanted element and replace it with details that match the surrounding area; the result is a seamless removal of an element. You can select the element to be removed, and then use the Content-Aware option in the Fill dialog box to replace the selection with details from the area surrounding the selection. If you prefer using a brush, you can also use the Content-Aware option on the Options bar for the Spot Healing Brush tool. As you paint, the Spot Healing brush fills in the area with the details that surround the painted area.
Use Content-Aware Fill with the Spot Healing Brush Tool
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Select the Spot Healing Brush tool on the toolbox. Click the Content-Aware option on the Options bar. Start painting where you want to remove an element in a continuous stroke (fill in the entire area). When you release the mouse, Photoshop automatically removes the element and fills in the area using details from the painted edge.
Element removed
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Use Content-Aware Fill with the Fill Dialog Box Create a selection using any of the selection tools. To create an exact selection, use the Quick Selection tool on the toolbox, and use the Refine Edge button on the Options bar. Click the Edit menu, and then click Fill. Click the Use list arrow, and then click Content-Aware. Click OK.
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Using Content-Aware Patch
Content-Aware Fill is integrated into the Patch tool. This is useful when you want to remove an unwanted element and have Photoshop automatically replace it with details that match the surrounding area; the result is a seamless removal of an element. You can select the element to be removed, and then use the Content-Aware option on the Options bar with the Patch tool to replace the selection with details from the area surrounding the selection. You can specify how strict or loose you want Photoshop to be as it fills in the content-aware background.
Use Content-Aware Patch with the Patch Tool Use one of the selection tools on the toolbox, and then draw a rough selection around the content you want to move. Make sure the selection includes varied amounts of the background for use by Photoshop to fill in the background. Click the Patch tool on the toolbox. Click the Patch list arrow on the Options bar, and then click Content-
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Aware. To specify how the content is filled, click the Adaptation list arrow on the Options bar, and then select an option: Very Strict, Strict, Medium,
Loose, or Ve,rv Loose. Drag the selection away from the content; however not to far. As you drag, Photoshop uses the Content-Aware Fill to fill in the background with the surround content. When you release the mouse, Photoshop uses the background and blends the edges. To adjust and fine-tune the results, drag the selection to have Photoshop re-fill again.
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Using Content-Aware Move and Extend
The Content-Aware Move tool allows you to select and move or extend a part of an image and then have Photoshop automatically fill in the background using the surrounding area in the selection or the main content in the selection. This is useful when you want to move an element and replace it with details that match the surrounding area or extend an element and replace it with details that match the main content of the element. For example, you can move a selected jet skier to a different area on a lake and have Photoshop fill in the lake, or you can extend a selection of plants to create more plants and have Photoshop fill in the details. This tool works best with generalized backgrounds, such as water on a lake, or white backgrounds.
Use Content-Aware Move Tool Use one of the selection tools on the toolbox, and then draw a rough selection around the content you want to move. Make sure the selection includes varied amounts of the background for use by Photoshop to fill in the background. Click the Content-Aware Move tool on the toolbox. Click the Mode list arrow on the Options bar, and then click Move or
Extend. Drag the selection to another location. You can press the Shift key as you drag to constraint the movement of the selection. When you release the mouse, Photoshop uses the Content-Aware Move tool adaptation setting to fill in the background or extend the content. To adjust and fine-tune how the content is filled or extended, click the Adaptation list arrow on the Options bar, and then select an option: Very Strict, Strict, Medium,
Loose, or Very Loose. Elementmoved
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Using Puppet Warp
The Puppet Warp tool allows you to push and pull elements within an image. You can adjust an element to add an artistic flare or make it fit into a specific space by simply adding or removing handles, known as pins, as needed and then dragging them to adjust (warp, stretch, or reposition) all or part of the image.
Use Puppet Warp Select one or more areas of an image using any of the selection tools, or select an entire layer.
Remove All Pins
Click the Edit menu, and then click Puppet Warp. To modify the mesh, use any of the following on the Options bar: Show Mesh. Select to show or deselect to hide the mesh. Density. Click the list arrow, and then select Fewer Points, Normal, or More Points. Expansion. Specify a pixel size to increase or decrease the mesh. Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a warp mode: Rigid, Normal, or Distort. Click on the mesh to place pins creating points that don't move. Select one or more pins that move, and then drag one or use the arrow keys to warp the image. Select or Deselect Pins. Shift+ click a pin, or press Ctrl+A (Win) or ~+A (Mac) to select all or press Ctrl-D (Win) or ~+O (Mac) to deselect all. Remove Pins. Alt-click (Win) or Opticn-click (Mac) a pin, or click the Remove All Pins button. Temporarily Hide Pins. Press H. To adjust overlap from background areas, click the Forward or Backward Pin Depth buttons. Click the Commit or Cancel button to keep or cancel the change. 112
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Drag a selected pin to warp the image.