The Contiguous setting selects only adjacent pixels
within the tolerance range. Otherwise, all pixels
within the range, even on the object, would be
selected. Follow these steps to use the contiguous
settings option:- With your test image open, select the Magic
Wand tool. - Click on an area of the picture to select it,
then release the mouse. - To select an unconnected area of similar
color and brightness, highlight the icon for
Add To an Existing Selection in the Tool
options bar and click the Magic Wand
again. - To select an item in a picture with a plain
background (if your image has one), use
Magic Wand to select the background
areas of common color, and then choose
Select, Inverse, which will select the item.
This is easier than trying to draw around
the item with other tools. - Press Ctrl+D or choose Select, Deselect to
remove the selection marquee.
Using the Lasso Tool
The Lasso tool enables you to select an area of
any size or shape by drawing around it freehand
(see Figure 10.13).
Tr y your hand at the Lasso tool. This tool is great for small irregular selections.
Anything larger, though, and you really should use the Pen tool (described in
Chapter 11, “The Importance of Selections”). Follow these steps to select an area
using the Lasso tool:- Click on the Lasso and drag the mouse to outline the area to select.
- Press and hold down the Alt key while drawing with the lasso and watch
what happens. Press Delete (or Ctrl+Z; xZ for Mac) if you need to undo the
last polygon added to your selection.
142 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
When Anti-Aliased is
checked, the selection will
be surrounded by a border of
partly selected pixels.tip
Holding down the Shift
key while making a new
selection adds the new selec-
tion to the old one.
Conversely, holding the
Option (or Alt) key while
clicking subtracts the
newly selected pixels from the
original selection.