Creating pixel selections

Pixel selections can be created for focused editing of specific pixel regions. Selection boundaries are defined depending on whether individual pixels are included or excluded.

Pixel selection types

A pixel selection is simply a drawn area on your image (bounded by a flashing dashed line, often called 'marching ants'). A selection is created for various reasons:

Selection boundaries are defined depending on whether individual pixels are included or excluded.

Once your selection has been created, you can invert it so all included pixels are excluded and vice versa.

Selection tools

You can create a pixel selection using the Selection Brush Tool or Marquee Selection Tools or base it on a layer. Using the Flood Select Tool, you can also define a selection of similar color value pixels with a single click. Selections created using the Marquee tools align to individual pixels.

Once your selection has been created, you can invert it so all included pixels are excluded and vice versa.

There are several tools you can use to create pixel selections:

Selection procedures

Alongside the many selection tools available, there are also a variety of procedures you can follow to create a pixel selection from:

Selection modes

When working with, and creating, selections, you may have access to the following Modes which affect how your selection develops:

Selection Brush To paint a pixel selection:
  1. From the Tools panel, select the Selection Brush Tool.
  2. Adjust the settings on the context toolbar.
  3. Drag on your page.
Rectangular Marquee Tool Elliptical Marquee Tool Row Marquee Tool Column Marquee Tool To create a pixel selection using a Marquee Selection tool:
  1. From the Tools panel, select the Rectangular, Elliptical, Row or Column Marquee Tool.
  2. Adjust the settings on the context toolbar.
  3. Drag on your page.
Freehand Selection To draw a pixel selection:
  1. From the Tools panel, select the Freehand Selection Tool.
  2. On the context toolbar, choose a selection Type.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • With Freehand selected, drag on the page to draw the edge of the selection and release to close the selection.
    • With Polygon selected, click to define the beginning of the selection and then click for every change in direction.
    • With Magnetic selected, click to define the beginning of the selection and then click to place a custom node position. Automatic nodes will be placed along distinct image edges as the cursor moves.
  4. Double-click to close the selection (Polygon and Magnetic only).
To create a pixel selection from a layer:
Select All Pixels To select every pixel in the image:

Do one of the following:

Invert Selection To invert a pixel selection:

With a selection in place, do one of the following:

To hide/show a pixel selection temporarily:
Deselect Pixels To remove a pixel selection:

Do one of the following:

SEE ALSO: