chapter07

Ch 7: Selecting Pixels

Photoshop CS6 EssentialsBy Scott Onstott


Using the Rectangular Marquee• Hold the Shift key to make square

selections• Hold the Opt key to create the

rectangle/square from the center• Hold the Cmd key to cut the selection

and move it with the cursor• Use the arrow keys to nudge the

selection one pixel at a time• You can feather the selection on the

options bar which means partially select pixels at the edges

Image courtesy Richard Trueman


Using Fixed Ratios and Sizes• Choose Fixed Size if you want to make

a selection based on a number of pixels.

• You can also use a fixed size based on a number of inches or centimeters; type in or cm on options bar to make marquee size based on resolution

• To use the golden rectangle proportion (shown at right) use Fixed Ratio style with Width set to 1 and Height set to 1.618 or vice versa

Image courtesy Richard Trueman


Saving and Loading Selections• Selections are lost when you close files

in Photoshop unless you save them• Save a selection using the Select menu• Saving a selection creates an alpha

channel which is a grayscale image representing the selection (white is selected, black is not and shades of gray are partially selected)

• The variety of file formats supporting alpha channels is limited

• Load a selection from the Select menu or by Cmd-clicking its alpha channel thumbnail


Lassoing Selections• Select pixels freehand by drawing

loops with the lasso• Hold Shift to add to the selection• Hold Opt to subtract from the

selection• Alternatively use the Boolean mode

buttons on the options bar to add/subtract/intersect and create new selections

• Using a tablet stylus can made lassoed selections more accurate

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©Doga Yusuf Dokdok, Image #10283262


Fading Effects• The purpose of selection is to do

“something” to the pixels you are identifying

• The sky’s the limit on what that “something” can be. For example, you might use adjustments, masks, or filters on selections.

• You have the opportunity immediately after applying that special something to Fade it using the Edit > Fade command.

• Fade is like Undo on a slider.

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©Doga Yusuf Dokdok, Image #10283262


Drawing Selections• You can use vector drawing tools

such as the rectangle, circle, pen tool, and so on to create selections

• Use Paths mode on the options bar when using a drawing tool

• After creating a work path click the Load Path As Selection icon at the bottom of the Paths panel

• Alternatively Hold Cmd and click the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add the work path as a vector mask

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©Luis Alvarez, Image #978869


Painting Selections:• Press Q or click the bottommost

button in the Tools panel to enter Quick Select mode

• Press B to select the Brush tool and choose a brush tip, size, and hardness

• Paint on the image and a transparent red overlay called rubylith appears

• Press Q again (or click the same bottom button) to convert your painting into a selection

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©Martin Bowker, Image #4954117


Selecting by Color• Choose Select > Color Range to

select by color• Select the Add to selection

eyedropper in the Color Range dialog box and drag across the thumbnail to select a range of colors

• Adjust the sliders to fine tune the range of colors that area selected and click OK

• Remove any unwanted stray pixels from the selection with the Lasso tool

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©K.J. Schraa, Image #2351702


Quick Select and Refine Edge• The Quick Select tool can create a

rough selection with on-the-fly edge analysis by dragging the tool as if it were a paintbrush

• You can remove pixels by holding Opt with the Quick Select tool

• After you have a rough selection use Refine Edge to clean it up

• Use the Refine Radius tool within Refine Edge and paint over any problem areas such as hair

• This combination of tools is very fast and efficient

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, ©Hammondovi, Image #13707719

chapter07

Technology