Friday 9/13/13

Mini Lesson #1: Selection Tools

Take Notes!

Key Vocabulary: marquee tool, lasso, magnetic lasso, quick selection tool, magic wand

Objective: Students will be able to use the selection tools efficiently and determine which tool is most appropriate for the task.

Marquee Tools:

Marquee Tools allow you to select a rectangular or elliptical area of your image in order to then move, delete or stylize the selected area.

Step 1: Click the rectangular Marquee tool (curser changes to a cross)

Step 2: Click and drag diagonally inside the images window. You can press and hold SHIFT while you click to create a square selection.

Step 3: You can now perform other commands on the selected portion.

To deselect, click SELECT (on the top menu bar) and click deselect

Step 4: To use the elliptical marquee tool, click and hold the marquee button. From the list, click on ELLIPTICAL marquee tool.

Step 5: Click and drag diagonally inside the image. You can press and hold SHIFT while you click and drag to create a circular selection.

TIPS:

You can customize the Marquee tools:

Feather: typing a feather value softens your selection edge – which means Photoshop partially selects pixels near the edge.

Lasso Tools:

The Lasso tools allow you to select oddly shaped selections which you can then move, delete or stylize.

Step 1: Zoom in on the area you want to select.

Step 2: Click the lasso tool.

Step 3: Click and drag your cursor around the area you want to select.

Step 4: Drag to the beginning point and release the mouse button.

Polygonal Lasso

Step 1: Click and hold the lasso button.

Step 2: From the list click the polygonal lasso tool.

Step 3: Click multiple times along the border of the area you want to select.

Step 4: To complete the selection, click the starting point.

TIPS:

What if my selection is not as precise as I want it to be?

This is difficult, try:

Deselecting and trying again.

Fix your selection by adding to or subtracting from your selection

Switch to Magnetic Lasso tool

Magnetic Lasso Tool:

This tool allows you to quickly and easily select elements of your image that have well-defined edges. (contrasts sharply with the background)

Step 1: Click and hold lasso

Step 2: select magnetic lasso from the list

Step 3: Click the edge of the object you want to select. A beginning anchor point is created.

Step 4: Drag your cursor along the edge of the object

Step 5: To help guide the lasso, you can click anchor points as you go along the path.

Step 6: To finish, click the beginning anchor point or double click anywhere in the image and Photoshop completes the selection for you.

TIPS: More anchor points will improve precision

Practice, Practice, practice!!!

Now what? Once you have a selection you can move it, delete it or copy and paste it.