Using Selection Tools

You can correct flaws by selecting the unwanted object and removing it from the photo.

Similarly, have you ever taken a good photo but wanted to focus on a specific subject in the photo? You can do that by selecting the desired subject and either removing the rest of the photo or creating an entirely new image.

There are several pixel selection tools that you will want to use:

Selection Tools

	Marquee Tool	Use this tool to select rectangular areas.
	Oval Marquee Tool	Use this tool to select oval areas.
	Lasso Tool	Use this tool to select odd-shaped areas by drawing around the area.
	Polygon Lasso Tool	Use this tool to select odd-shaped areas by connecting a series of dots around the area.
	Smart Lasso Tool	Use this tool to select odd-shaped areas by drawing and connecting a series of dots around the area.

Selecting Rectangular or Oval Areas

The Marquee Tool and the Oval Marquee Tool are the easiest to use, so if you are learning to use ACDSee Photo Editor, you may want to start by mastering these tools. (You have to click the arrow beside the Marquee Tool to display the other pixel selection tools.) Once you have selected the Marquee Tool or Oval Marquee Tool:

1. Do one of the following:

• Click next to the desired area and drag diagonally downwards or upwards until a rectangle or oval surrounds the desired area.
• Press and hold the Ctrl key then click in the middle of the desired area and drag outwards until a rectangle or oval surrounds the desired area.

2. Release the mouse button. A flashing marquee surrounds the area that you selected.

Selecting Odd-Shaped Areas with the Lasso Tool

The Lasso Tool is a very powerful selection tool because you can use it to select odd-shaped areas in a photo. For example, have you ever wanted to remove one or two people in the background of a photo or people who accidentally walked into frame when you took a photo? You can use the Lasso Tool to draw a selection around these people, leaving most of the photo untouched. Once you have selected the Lasso Tool:

1. Click next to the odd-shaped area and slowly drag the cursor around the area as if you were drawing an outline around it.
2. Complete the selection by dragging back to the starting point and releasing the mouse button. A flashing marquee surrounds the area that you selected. If you release the mouse button before you reach the starting point, ACDSee Photo Editor will connect the starting and end points with a straight line.

Selecting Odd-Shaped Areas with the Polygon Lasso Tool

If you find it difficult to use the Lasso Tool, try using the Polygon Lasso Tool. It works like the Lasso Tool but instead of clicking and dragging a complete freehand line around an area you only have to click on points around the area. A straight marquee line is drawn between each point. You may find this tool easier to use because you can spend more time getting the cursor into the correct position or because you do not have to hold the mouse button down constantly.

Selecting Odd-Shaped Areas with the Smart Lasso Tool

The Smart Lasso Tool is a combination of the Lasso Tool and the Polygon Lasso Tool. You can click and drag around an area, then release the mouse button and click at specific points around the object. The selection marquee clings to the edges of nearby subjects, which increases the precision of your selection. However, to complete the selection you have to press the Esc key. Clicking on or near the start point will not complete the selection.

Selecting the Entire Photo

You can also select the entire photo.

To Select All Areas of a Photo:

1. Click the Selection Tool and double-click on the photo.
2. Click Image | Selection | Select All Pixels or Edit | Select All. A flashing marquee displays around the entire photo.

Deselecting an Area

If you are not satisfied with the selection, you can deselect the area and begin again.

To Deselect an Area:

Do one of the following:

• Click Image | Selection | Deselect All Pixels.
• Press Esc on your keyboard.

See Also:

• Selecting Areas Based on Color