Learn the Selection Tool in Adobe Photoshop: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Hello friends! welcome to another interesting lesson of Adobe Photoshop from the Online Trainings World. In this blog, I will try to explain you how Adobe Photoshop works with special reference to the Selection Tool. Regardless of whether you are a complete novice to using Yammer, or you have been using it and would like to get better at it then this guide will help you to get the basic insight needed to optimise the use of this powerful tool.

Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a complex program; to begin with, when you launch the program for the first time, the layout of the main screen will appear. Now, it is time, to briefly recall, what we are actually dealling with. When you start photoshop you are welcomed by a new and blank palette where the artwork starts. 

When you want to create a new file you just have to go the option “File” on the top left corner of the screen and then choose “New”. To the right of it you can set your resolution. In most of the projects, 72 pixels per inch is acceptable resolution particularly if the images are for use on the websites.

Understanding the Canvas

When you start a new file you will see the canvas to work on as described in the next articles. This is where it is at. The canvas is your drawing board from where you can paint, alter or even manipulate the pictures. One has to realize that each new layer that you build should in fact be formed on a different layer. This is beneficial for the reason that it provides the operator more leeway and also simpler to modify in the subsequent shoots. 

Layers in Photoshop

I must say that layers are one of the basic elements of photoshop. They enable you to work on parts of the image separately. With multiple layers, if you error or if you wish to modify a particular region, then you can this freely without affecting the overall view of the image. 

• Creating Layers: For the new layer, you have to look at Layers palette and you will find a ‘new layer’ icon there. 
• Working on Layers: Notice that before changing anything you should always ensure the right layer has been activated. This will make sure that the change done is only in the areas that desired and fit for change.

The Selection Tool: Your Key to Precision 

Now, let’s get into the heart of this blog: the Selection Tool and copy and paste the truck icon on to the square canvas. This is very handy in their operation especially when one needs to work on a particular segment of the image without affecting the rest of the image. There are several selection tools in Photoshop but the following ones are of great importance. 

Read Also : R-Wipe & Clean v20.0.2388

Types of Selection Tools

• Rectangular Marquee Tool: This permits it for you to pick rectangular regions in your canvas. 
• Elliptical Marquee Tool: This is much like the rectangular tool except that it is used in making circular selection. 
• Single Row and Single Column Marquee Tools: These tools allow to pick a single pixel row or column that might be useful in some cases. 
• Magic Wand Tool: This tool works on color value that is why it is useful in selecting backgrounds or totally uniform areas. 

How to Use the Selection Tool

To apply the Selection Tool, click on it from the toolbox above and then right click then left click on the desired area that you would like to select. For instance, to extend your selection to other elements, you can simply hold down the Shift key on your keyboard while doing so and to cancel a selection you could use the Alt key (or Option key on Mac) . 

After selection it can be moved, and painted with the color of your choice or subjected to various effects. That is why the Selection Tool is one of the most versatile tools available to the user. Working with Foreground and Background Colors

When you start a new layer in Photoshop besides choosing the foreground color you also choose a background color. The foreground color is the one you will use to paint or draw with and the backing color is the one used for area filling and gradient. 

To change these colors, one can simply click on the colour boxes at the lower side of the tool bar. This means the color can be any that you desire and the change will be reflecting on your currently held tool. 

Read Also: Mastering Adobe Photoshop

Using the Paint Bucket Tool

Paint Bucket Tool is the process of selecting an area on the work and filling it with a colour or pattern. The Paint Bucket Tool is one of the best tools to use when you want to flood select area with color. Once you’re done with it, you choose the Paint Bucket Tool, select the foreground color and then click into your chosen area. Voila! The area that you selected is now painted with color. 

Zooming In and Out 

When working, there are times that one feels the need to view some area in more detail or may switch to view the whole project at once. There is enables zooming in by way of Control + Plus sign (+) and zoom out via Control + Minus sign (-). The second process is also available, that is you can also utilize the zoom tool present at the top panel of the interface. 

Feathering Your Selections

Feathering is one of the options that help you to smooth your selection by blurring the edges of the selection. This makes it possible to achieve more natural appearance if you are overlaying images or applying an effect. To feather your selection, simply after you’ve made your choose, go to your options bar and enter the value of your feather. 

Final Thoughts

In this blog post, I described basic usage of the Selection Tool in Adobe Photoshop program. When you know how to use this tool, you will be able to develop amazing pictures and amazing editing. Of course, practice makes perfect, thus do not pass a chance to apply various tools and options of a selection in Photoshop. 

Now that you got an idea of what this guide entails, help spread the word by letting your friends and other aspiring Photoshop artists know about it thru word of mouth. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section below and tell us what more would you like us to talk about next? 

We thank you for considering the Online Trainings World as your virtual platform for learning. Simply stated, stay innovative and enjoy your editing work!

For more tutorials and resources, check out our YouTube channel: Online Trainings World.

Adobe Photoshop Graphic Designe Selection Tool