Photoshop Tutorial: How to Quickly Select and Change Part of an Image

Being able to quickly select and change parts of an image is essential for any Photoshop user. In this tutorial, we will show you how to use three of the most efficient selection tools in Photoshop to quickly isolate and modify specific areas of your images.

Tool 1: Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool is a versatile tool that uses AI to automatically detect and select areas of an image based on their color and contrast. This tool is particularly useful for selecting objects with clear edges, such as fruits, vegetables, or objects against simple backgrounds.

Steps:

1. Select the Quick Selection Tool: Click and hold the Rectangular Marquee Tool in the Tools panel, and then choose the Quick Selection Tool from the fly-out menu.
2. Start Selecting: Click and drag the cursor over the area you want to select. The tool will automatically detect and select the object, following the contours of the object.
3. Fine-tune Selection: To refine the selection, hold down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key and click around the edges of the selection to add or remove pixels. You can also use the brush size slider in the options bar to adjust the size of the selection tool.

Tool 2: Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand Tool is another powerful tool for making quick selections. Unlike the Quick Selection Tool, the Magic Wand Tool selects contiguous areas of similar color, making it ideal for selecting objects with uniform color backgrounds or objects that blend seamlessly with their surroundings.

Steps:

1. Select the Magic Wand Tool: Click the Magic Wand Tool in the Tools panel.
2. Set Tolerance: Adjust the Tolerance slider in the options bar to control how closely the selected areas must match the initial click. Higher tolerance values select larger areas, while lower tolerance values select smaller areas.
3. Click on the Background: Click on an area of the background that is the same color as the object you want to select. The Magic Wand Tool will automatically select all contiguous areas of that color.
4. Refine Selection: Hold down the Shift key and click on any areas that you want to add to the selection. Hold down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key and click on any areas to remove them from the selection.

Tool 3: Lasso Tools

The Lasso Tools provide more precision than the Quick Selection or Magic Wand Tools, allowing you to make freehand selections around objects with complex shapes or irregular edges.

Steps:

1. Select the Lasso Tool: Click the Lasso Tool in the Tools panel. There are three Lasso Tools: the Lasso Tool, the Polygonal Lasso Tool, and the Magnetic Lasso Tool.
2. Make Selection: Click and drag the cursor around the object you want to select.
3. Refine Selection: For more precision, use the Lasso Tool options to close gaps, add points, or subtract areas from the selection.

Tips:

• Use the Quick Selection Tool for quick selections of objects with clear edges.
• Use the Magic Wand Tool for quick selections of objects with uniform color backgrounds.
• Use the Lasso Tools for precise selections of objects with complex shapes or irregular edges.
• Use the Quick Selection Tool first to get a rough selection, and then refine it using the Lasso Tools or the Magic Wand Tool.
• Use the Select and Mask workspace in Photoshop to further refine your selections and make complex modifications.