Pixel selections from channels

You can create pixel selections based on a single channel or combination of channels. This feature is available from the Channels panel.

Selection from channel

Selection created from the image's red channel.

Pixels are selected based on the contribution that the chosen channel makes to its color value. If a channel only contributes partially to a pixel, that partial amount is selected (i.e. where a channel contributes 20% of the color to that pixel, that 20% is selected).

To create a pixel selection from a channel:
To combine channels in a single pixel selection:

In the Channels panel:

  1. -click any channel and select Load to Pixel Selection.
  2. -click any other channel and select Add to Pixel Selection.
  3. Repeat step 2 as needed.
To create a pixel selection from a selected layer's channel:
  1. In the Layers panel, select a layer.
  2. In the Channels panel:
    • -click a channel named after the selected layer (e.g. Background Red) and select Create Spare Channel
    • -click the newly created spare channel and select Load to Pixel Selection.
To save a selection as an alpha channel:

The selection is stored at the bottom of the Channels panel as a new 'Spare Channel' entry.

Invert To invert the layer's Pixel Selection channel:

SEE ALSO: