OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES
From time to time, you may find that you want a photo of a single object. Sometimes you want to use a photo like this for graphic design work, to include in a brochure or on a Web site. You may want to take an object from a photo in order to use it in a larger photo collage. The challenge is to isolate just the object and remove it from its background.
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
- Describe the strengths and limitations of the Photoshop selection tools
- Demonstrate how to transform a selection
- Accurately distinguish between the pixels within a selection and the selection itself
- Reposition a selection marquee
- Move and duplicate the contents of a selection
- Use keyboard-mouse combinations that save time and hand motions
- Deselect a selection
- Rotate a selection
READING & ACTIVITIES
LESSON NOTES
Select & Mask – You will need to become very familiar with the Select & Mask interface, as it is essential for making good selections. Please don’t forget to watch all the videos in the Make Selections Adobe Tutorial if you are unfamiliar with this interface. There will be some related questions on the quiz.
Selection Keystroke Tips
Perfect Squares and Circles – Holding down the shift key as you drag with the rectangular or elliptical marquee constrains the shape to a perfect square or circle. Note that this only works while you’re dragging the original selection. If you’ve already made a selection, holding down the shift key adds to the selection.
Inverse – You can switch the selected and unselected areas by choosing Select > Inverse (Shortcut = Command + Shift + I or Control + Shift + I).
Saving and Loading Selections – Some selections are difficult to make. When you have completed your complex selection, or even while you are in the process of making it, you can Save your selection, so that if you deselect, you can return to your selection at a later time. Select>Save and Select>Load
Deselecting/Reselecting – Command+D (Control+D on PC) is the shortcut for choosing Select > Deselect from the menu. If you deselect, and then realize you need the selection back, you can press Command+Shift+D (Control+Shift+D) to reload it.
Cancel Partial Selection – If you begin making a selection and then decide you don’t like it, you can press escape to cancel a partial selection.
Let Go of the Lasso – When using the lasso tool to draw a large or precise selection, my mouse finger sometimes gets tired and shaky. If you hold down the option key, you can release the mouse button and the lasso won’t automatically close the selection. Take a moment to let your hand relax, and then begin drawing again (and release the option key).
Examples
Since the photographer didn’t have time to set up studio backdrops and lighting, the guitar was simply held up in front of a white wall while she took the photo. The first step was to remove the object from its background, then create a new background and rotate the guitar into the desired position. She added a slight drop shadow to give the image more depth.
A previous student got creative and turned his dog into a musician for this assignment.
“Bear Bait Rocks the Duece” by SilverWolf
Saving Selections for Later Use
ASSIGNMENT
QUIZ
DISCUSSION
LESSON NOTES
Select & Mask – You will need to become very familiar with the Select & Mask interface, as it is essential for making good selections. Please don’t forget to watch all the videos in the Make Selections Adobe Tutorial if you are unfamiliar with this interface. There will be some related questions on the quiz.
Selection Keystroke Tips
Perfect Squares and Circles – Holding down the shift key as you drag with the rectangular or elliptical marquee constrains the shape to a perfect square or circle. Note that this only works while you’re dragging the original selection. If you’ve already made a selection, holding down the shift key adds to the selection.
Inverse – You can switch the selected and unselected areas by choosing Select > Inverse (Shortcut = Command + Shift + I or Control + Shift + I).
Saving and Loading Selections – Some selections are difficult to make. When you have completed your complex selection, or even while you are in the process of making it, you can Save your selection, so that if you deselect, you can return to your selection at a later time. Select>Save and Select>Load
Deselecting/Reselecting – Command+D (Control+D on PC) is the shortcut for choosing Select > Deselect from the menu. If you deselect, and then realize you need the selection back, you can press Command+Shift+D (Control+Shift+D) to reload it.
Cancel Partial Selection – If you begin making a selection and then decide you don’t like it, you can press escape to cancel a partial selection.
Let Go of the Lasso – When using the lasso tool to draw a large or precise selection, my mouse finger sometimes gets tired and shaky. If you hold down the option key, you can release the mouse button and the lasso won’t automatically close the selection. Take a moment to let your hand relax, and then begin drawing again (and release the option key).
Examples
Since the photographer didn’t have time to set up studio backdrops and lighting, the guitar was simply held up in front of a white wall while she took the photo. The first step was to remove the object from its background, then create a new background and rotate the guitar into the desired position. She added a slight drop shadow to give the image more depth.
A previous student got creative and turned his dog into a musician for this assignment.
“Bear Bait Rocks the Duece” by SilverWolf