Photoshop Selections: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Learn how to make better, more targeted image adjustments using selections—including objects like hair, fuzzy edges, and color ranges that can be difficult to select.

Introduction

• The tips, tricks, and techniques for selecting areas of an image in Photoshop
• Using the exercise files
• A selection makes everything better

1. What Are Selections?

• Using selections for color and tone adjustments
• Using selections to create masks
• The Select and Mask workspace

2. Getting Started with Photoshop Selection Tools

• Select all, deselect, and reselect
• Tips, tricks, and techniques for selecting areas of an image in Photoshop
• The Photoshop Marquee tools
• The Photoshop Selection Lassos
• Moving a Photoshop selection and Sky Replacement
• Using the options bar for advanced selection control in Photoshop

3. The Wand Tools

• The Photoshop Magic Wand tool
• The Photoshop Quick Selection tool
• Using the options bar for advanced wand control in Photoshop
• Saving tool presets

4. Refining a Selection

• Using Expand and Contract in Photoshop
• Grow, smooth, and feather a selection in Photoshop
• Transforming a selection in Photoshop
• The Inverse command in Photoshop
• Adding and subtracting from a selection
• Refining a selection with the Quick Mask command in Photoshop
• Improving selections with the Select and Mask command
• Advanced control with the Select and Mask command

5. Power User Techniques

• Using the Color Range command to select a color
• Using the Color Range command to select a tonal range
• Using the Color Range command to select skin tones
• Creating a selection based on focus area
• Selecting a sky in Photoshop
• Using the Select Subject command
• Making a selection with the Pen tool

6. Creating Selections with Channels

• What are channels?
• Creating a selection from a single channel
• Saving a selection as an alpha channel
• Refining channels with the Save Selection command
• Creating a selection from two channels with the Calculations command

7. Creating Selections in Raw Files

• Setting the Mask view in Adobe Camera Raw
• Selecting a subject in Adobe Camera Raw
• Selecting a sky in Adobe Camera Raw
• Selecting a background in Adobe Camera Raw
• Selecting an object in Adobe Camera Raw
• Selecting a range in Adobe Camera Raw
• Combining and subtracting a selection in Adobe Camera Raw

8. Content-Aware Fill

• Making an initial selection for Content-Aware Fill
• Refining the sample area for Content-Aware Fill
• Controlling Content-Aware Fill output
• Using selections and Content-Aware Patch
• Using selections and Content-Aware Move

9. Face-Aware Liquify

• Adjusting the selection points for Face-Aware Liquify
• Refining an image with Face-Aware Liquify

Conclusion

• Next steps