Selection Tools

[Imlexicog]

I'm still new and I've been trying to use the magnetic selection tool PS6 for Win. I've got a photo with four people and I can do the outer selection without a problem (other than having a problem "stopping" the selection...I think you use Alt and double click???), but when I try to go in and add some areas that I can't get to in the first selection, I completely lose the original selection. Is there a tutorial I can view on how to use selection tools?

[douglas m scott]

Imlexicog,

At the top of the work area just to the left of --the Feather box is 4 little icons of boxes , the second from left is (add to selection) click this one to add additional parts. There is also a Subtract from Selection.

doug

[Imlexicog]

I've tried that, but here's the problem. There are four people in the photo. I go around them with the magnetic lasso and when I get to where I started, I double click to end the lasso. Then I need to go back in and select some misc areas between legs, arms, etc. When I try to do this, I lose the large selection. Am I making any sense? Thanks for your help.

[Tina_B]

I know just what you mean. Once you have made a General selection you want to go in and clean up little spaces between letgs and what ever. What I use is the selection brush for that. the Icon is a little bursh with marching ants around it. If you select the brush and make it a small brush then zoom in and you can nudge the selection into those areas. If you go to far in just invert the selection and move it out again. Remember to invert the selection again after you move things out . You can also clean up any little unwanted selections that sometimes happen when using the magic wand tool. You just paint those unwanted things away. If they get larger insead of smaller then just invert the selection and paint over them again. It is just like rounding up the marching ants. You will find the invert option under the selection tab. Just play around with it and you will see what you can do.
Tina B

[Wendy]

Hi ..

Once you have made the initial selection change to the ordinary lasso and set the little box at the top to Subtract From ... the you will be able to subtract from your existing selection :)

Wendy

[Imlexicog]

But once I make the initial selection and then go in to use the other tools, once I've outlined the area, I can't get the marching ants. When I double click nothing happens?????

[Wendy]

Hi ...

When you have finished a selection you should have the marching ants onscreen .. and should be able to use another selection tool Providing that the tool is set to "Add too" or "Subtract from" before you click on the page ..

Try that :)
Wendy

[Imlexicog]

Oops! Okay, I've got it. I was using add instead of subtract. Thank you for all the help. This forum is great!

Susan

[Wendy]

Hi Susan ...

So glad that you you now have it working :)

Wendy

[Imlexicog]

Thanks again for all your help!