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CS5: Selections

May 8, 2011 4:21 PM

Long time Lightroom user and PSE but upgraded to CS5 a few months ago.  Have other books and membrships but apparently my difficulty is so basic that it isn't coverreed.  Formerly PC but Mac the last 5 years.

 

I am trying to complete the lessons in the ADOBE "Classroom in a Book."

 

For the most part I understand and can work with a lot of it; but, for some reason, I don't understand how the selection tools work like the videos and the help programs indicate.

 

I use both a mouse and a Wacom medium tablet.

 

One example is the Quick Selection tool .. set to 6 px for selecting a piece of coral, click on it and start working down but the slightest move makes the ants jump completely out of or across the image .. no semblance of following the edges.  I have spent hours using the add, subtract  .. and history, to start over with New.

 

Will really appreciate advice and suggestions,

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

 
Replies
  • Currently Being Moderated
    May 8, 2011 6:17 PM   in reply to n781lc

    Hi Ed,

     

    The Quick Selection Tool is usually an amazingly intelligent selection tool. But sometimes it acts retarded. First, make sure you have the right layer targeted to work on. I have had the QS Tool not work right, only to find a had another layer or a mask targeted.

    Quick Select works great on faces and people, but on geometric shapes or others intricate natural shapes, it can go wrong. You may have to resort to Magic Wand, Select Color Range, or Calculations to get best possible selection.

     
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    May 9, 2011 12:34 AM   in reply to n781lc

    Sounds like a problem I had

     

    Go to the eyedropper tool and change the pixel select from large to smaller.

    it affects how the magic wand works.

     
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