Ok, this ? is going to sound like I'm really dumb...

[Grammy]

but...I'm just new to this editing thing!

I have a picture that I want the outside area to be blurred. Also, inside the section that I want to remain normal, there is a flower that is blurred (my granddaughter moved just as I took the photo), so I want to try to sharpen that (or fix the flower somehow).

Here's what I've done:
Duplicate photo in a new layer. Used the marquee to choose the inside area of the pic that would remain normal.

Inverted selection so that "ants" went around edge of photo and the oval section in the center.

Selected the blur tool. Changed to 100 percent and blurred the inverted selection. I've finished that part of the photo and am happy with it, but...

I can't get the marching ants to let me finish that and move on to the next editing process. Here is the dumb question...how do I make the ants stop and complete that selection?

Next thing I want to do is sharpen or repair the flower. Would I make a new layer and work on the flower? How would you suggest fixing it?

Thanks for your help,
Terry

[Goddess_of_Go]

Try Select - Deselect.

What this means is go to the Select menu.
Then choose Deselect from that menu.

Keyboard shortcut Command-D (Control-D on the PC.)

Terri

[ljameso1]

For the flower would suggest selective sharpening. Select the flower and sharpen just that.

[jjvera00]

I press the 'Esc' key to get rid of the marching ants.

[Grammy]

I want to choose the selection though. If I just escape or Select/Deselect it won't keep the change I just made. How do I get rid of the "ants" and keep the selection?
Thanks,
Terry

[jjvera00]

Try this. When you select the flower, press Ctrl+J to duplicate your selection, ie just the flower. This will put the flower on its own layer. Then proceed with the rest of the tutorial