Selecting with the Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand Tool selects areas of similar color. To increase or decrease the range of color selected, you can adjust the Tolerance, or color range, of the Magic Wand Tool.

To select an area:

1. From the Toolbox, select the Magic Wand Tool HINT: If the Magic Wand Tool is not visible, you may need to click and hold on the

Quick Selection Tool to find it.

2. From the Objects toolbar, in the Tolerance text box, specify a value NOTE: Low levels of Tolerance result in a smaller selection area. High levels of Tolerance result in a larger selection area.

3. To select only like-colored pixels that are next to each other, select Contiguous

OR To select all like-colored pixels in the image, de-select Contiguous

4. In your image, click a spot within the area that you want to select Similar colors around the area where you clicked are selected.

5. OPTIONAL: Enlarge or reduce the selected area: NOTE: These selections are also based on similar colors and may result in unintentional additions or subtractions.

a. To add to the selected area, press [Shift] while clicking areas not included in the

original selection

b. To subtract from the selected area, press [Alt] while clicking areas you want to

exclude

6. Complete the desired action (e.g., copy, add color) The area remains selected.

7. To prevent inadvertent changes to the selected area, when complete, deselect the area

Saving a Selection

Focusing on a particular area of an image is done using the selection tools; however, many times you need to work with different areas at different times. Photoshop allows you to save selection areas to make re-selecting these areas more efficient.

1. Select the desired area

2. From the Select menu, select Save

Selection...

The Save Selection dialog box appears.

3. In the Name text box, type a name for the selection.

4. Click OK

Loading a Selection

In order to work with a saved selection, it needs to be loaded.

1. From the Select menu, select Load Selection...The Load Selection dialog box appears.

2. From the Channel pull-down list, choose the desired selection

3. Click OK The selection is loaded.

Deselecting an Area

To prevent inadvertent changes to a selected area, you should deselect it. WARNING: If you have not saved the selection, you will need to re-select the area in order to work with it again.

1. From the Select menu, select Deselect