Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Keystrokes are for Windows... For lesson with Macintosh keystrokes Click here
Lesson 1: Adding and Subtracting Selections:
Selection Shortcuts :
- [Shift+tool] adds to selection; [Alt+tool] subtracts from selection
- [Ctrl+Z] will revert to last selection
- [While selecting: Hold down "Spacebar" to move the selection… release it to resize]
 - [Double click] any tool to see "Alt" settings
1. Open "PSP_Selection.tif" file
2. Using the "Zoom" Tool, draw a bonding box around the mushroom.
3. Using the "Rectangle Marquee ":
 

- Form a "T" shape selection over the mushroom by "adding" two selection:

a) Select the top half
b) With the [Shift] key down, add the bottom 1/2 to the selection

{when done, press [Ctrl+D] to deselect the selection}
 

- Form a "T" shape selection over the mushroom by "subtracting" two selection:

a) Select the entire mushroom
b) With the [Alt] key down, subtract the bottom right of selection
c) With the [Alt] key down, subtract the bottom left of selection
Revision 1.5



Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Lesson 2: Apply various selection techniques and create new layers of areas selected.

Select various face parts:
1. Open "PSPselection.tif" file
2. With zoom tool, draw a bounding box around face part (see list below)
3. Select an area with different tools (see "Face Parts List" below)
4. Create a new layer of the selection and name it
5. Double click the "hand" tool to show entire file and reselect the Background" layer
 {- repeat from Step 2 and select next "face part" from "Face Parts List" below}
... when done selecting all face parts continue with Step 6 below

Face Parts List [Steps 3 & 4 above]

[Left Eye Brow] Radish:
1. Use the "polygon lasso" to trace around the radish by clicking along the edges
2. Create a new layer of the selection >Layer>New>Layer via Copy
3. Double click the Layer and name it "eye brow"

[Eye] Carrot and Blueberry:
1. Double click "magic wand" and set tolerance to 48 then click on carrot
2. add the "blueberry" area to the selection using the "polygon lasso" while holding the [Shift] key
3. Create a new layer of the selection >Layer>New>Layer via Copy
4. Double click the Layer and name it "eye"

 [Mouth] Kiwi:
1. Make an approximate selection with oval tool
2. Menu: >Select>Transform Selection and adjust to fit the kiwi then press [Enter]
3. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "mouth"

[Ear] Orange Slice:
1. Select "magnetic lasso" then double click and "Reset Tool" using the palette arrow
2. Using the "magnetic lasso" to select the pulp area in the orange slice
3. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "ear"

[Hat] Mushroom:
1. Using the "magnetic lasso" select around the edge of the mushroom
2. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "hat"

[Bow Tie] Pasta:
1. Double click "magic wand" tool and set tolerance to 16
2. Make multiple selections of the pasta using the [Shift+magic wand] tool
 3. Use the "polygon lasso" while holding the [Shift] key to finish selecting unselected areas.
4. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "bow tie"

[Nose] Pear
1. Set tolerance of "Magic wand" tool to 24 and click in middle of pear
2. From the "Select" menu choose Grow" (repeat several times)
3. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "nose"

[Head] Melon
1. Using the "magnetic lasso" select the head
2. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "head"
6. Save and Close file - {PS will keep name but change file type to ".PSD" an editable file}
Revision 3.1

Photoshop for Photographers ©
Bob DiNatale
Activity: Selection Techniques... Reading: Chapter2 - Studio Techniques by Ben Wilmore
Lesson 3: More "Selection" and "Layer techniques
1. Open "PSPselection.PSD" file created in Lesson 2
2. Move and prioritize layers to compose face:
{reference example in upper right corner}
3. Prioritize and rotate the "ear":
  a) Make the "ear" layer active and place it under the "head" layer.
b) Rotate ear from menu: >Edit>Transform>Rotate 90° CCW
4. Link and Merge layers:
  a) make all but the Background" visible and make the "head" layer active
b) link all BUT the "eyebrow" layer (notice "link" icon to the right of "eye")
c) merge linked layers from the menu: >Layers>Merged Linked or [Ctrl+E]
Observation:
The "eyebrow" probably shows some white and needs to be removed. We can make a more refined selection using the Quick Mask Mode.
1. Make "Background" active
2. Use the "Rectangle Marquee" to select an area slightly larger than the Radish
3. Create a new layer of the selection: [Alt+Ctrl+J] and name it "eyebrow2"
4. Make only the "eyebrow2" layer active and visible [Alt+eye]
5. Zoom in by drawing a bounding box around the Radish with the "Zoom" tool
6. Make a rough selection around the Radish using the "polygonal lasso" as in Lesson 2
7. Press "Q" to enter "Quick Mask Mode" and refine the selection:
  - Use the "Paint Brush" tool, to "add" or "subtract" from the Quick Mask:
 

- [black] blocks (adds to the mask) and [white] clears (removes the mask)
- "X" on the keyboard toggles between black and white
- the left bracket "[" selects the next smallest brush
- the right bracket "]" selects the next largest brush
Note: it's better to make the selection slightly smaller than the object

8. When done, press "Q" to exit Quick Mask and return to "Selection" (marching ants).
9. Invert the selection Menu: >Select>Inverse then press [Delete]
10. Make just the "eyebrow 2" and the "head" layers visible and reposition the "eyebrow 2" layer
11. Flatten, crop and save file:
  a) flatten file from the menu: >Layers>Flatten Image (Discard hidden layers? OK)
b) create a box around finished head with the "crop tool" then press [Enter]
c) from the menu: >File>Save as "MellonHead.TIF" and end lesson
Revision 3.0
 
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