Selections Menu

Selections

In many cases, there is a need to perform operations only on certain parts of an image. In fact, this is one of the most common tasks in the digital processing (editing) of an image. The possibility to perform operations only on certain parts of the images enables you to perform accurate editing operations only on those areas needed without having to change the rest of the image. The program contains many tools and functions that enable the selection of an area on the image. An area selected is called a Selection. The selected area is represented by a broken line called Marquee. The part within the selection is called the Selection Area. After the selection operation, it is possible to edit the selection area, copy it, cut it, delete it, move (drag) it to another location, and many other operations. Controlling the selection tools and the selection functions is very important and essential to successful editing works (tasks, operations, etc.).

Selecting an area on an image

In order to select an area on an image you may use one of three tools: Standard Selection, Custom Selection & Magic Wand. Additional functions related to selection are found under the Selections menu.

The Selection Tools

The software's toolbox contains 3 main selection tools: the Standard (Geometric) Selection Tool, the Custom Selection Tool (which also combines a powerful tool called Magic Selection) and the Magic Wand. With the selection tools it is possible to perform various operations, from simple tasks of selecting areas to more complex tasks such as selecting complex areas, separating an image from a background and more.

Standard (Geometric) Selection Tool: With this tool is possible to select areas on a picture with geometric shapes like squares, rectangles, circles, ellipsis, arrows, stars, hearts and much more, or a combination of the above. In order to activate the tool, press the Standard Selection Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

1. Type Toolbar - With this toolbar it is possible to select the geometric form of the selection .
2. Feather - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
3. Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.

How to use the tool

In order to (actively) select an area on the picture, use the mouse to point on the spot where you wish the selection to begin. Click on it with the mouse's left button. While keeping the button pressed, drag the mouse until you reach the desired shape. To finish the operation, release the mouse's left button. The selection created will appear on the screen.

Custom Selection Tool

With this tool it is possible to select areas on the picture in any shape whatsoever. The selection of the areas can be done in one of two forms: Polygon or Free (or a combination of the two). In addition, any one of the selection types can include within it the Magic Selection, which facilitates the selection of desired areas on a picture (details ahead). In order to activate the tool, press the Custom Selection Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

1. Type Dropdown Box - Within this box it is possible to select the type of selection: Free, for the free selection of areas by drawing the circumference line of the area selected with the mouse; and Polygon, for selecting areas with an angle shape by using the mouse to draw the area's angles (from point to point).
2. Feather - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
3. Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.
4. Magic Selection Check Box - When this box is marked while performing a selection (Free or Polygon), the selection's lines will fix themselves automatically on the borderlines (line edges) (the borderlines/"edges" of the image - the areas in which there is a sharp transition of brightness) in the area of the defined window in the Window Box. This option is very useful when you want to mark/work with an image located on a background (when you want to perform an operation only on the image or when you want to separate the image from the background). With this element it is possible to perform the task easily since the selection lines will know to automatically attach/adjust themselves to the outline of the image without troubling the user with precision or effort on his/her part.
5. Tolerance - With this regulator it is possible to define the size of the area where the Magic Selection operation will be performed. This regulator is available only when the Magic Selection is activated.
6. Smooth Level - With this regulator it is possible to define the level of smooth of the Magic Selection tool. This regulator is available only when the Magic Selection is activated.

How to use the tool

1. The Free Selection: In order to (actively) select an area on the picture, use the mouse to point on the spot where you wish the selection to begin. Click on it with the mouse's left button. While keeping the button pressed, drag the mouse until you reach the desired shape. To finish the operation, release the mouse's left button. The selection created will appear on the screen.
2. The Polygon Selection: In order to (actively) select the area on the picture, use the mouse to point on the spot where you wish to begin the selection and left-click with the mouse. Each new left-click on the mouse while pointing on a different area on the picture will create a rib. In order to finish the selection (and close the polygon), either right-click with the mouse on the picture or left-click anywhere else outside of the picture or double click on the picture.

Tutorial - Take out/in someone from a photo (or replacing an image background) using the magic selection feature.

Magic Wand (Selection) Tool

The Magic Wand tool enables the selection of areas in a picture which have similar levels of brightness/hue. (For example, when there is an image on a background with the same hue, it is possible to select the background easily with the Magic Wand. After selecting the background, it is possible to perform the invert operation on the selection and by doing so, in effect, selecting the image). In order to activate the tool, press the Magic Wand Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

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