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FlashKatt
FlashKatt
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Reversing a selection?

Jul 23, 2012 1:16 PM

Sometimes this happens to me in using selection tools, especially the Lasso tools where I want to subtract from or add toan existing selection, but I hit the wrong key and end up adding to it instead.

 

Then, you undo, make your selection again and hopefully you've rememberd to hit the correct modifyer key..

 

Is there a way to, after making your selection, to tell photoshop to do the opposite of what you've just told it to? In other words, if you added when you meant to subtract, have PS do the opposite function, but using the same selection you made, so that you don't have to do that part again?

 

I hope I didn't break anybody's neck with a possibly confusing question...

 

thanks!

 

;-)

 

kat

516 Views   8 Replies   Latest reply: Noel Carboni, Jul 23, 2012 7:12 PM
 
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  • R_Kelly
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    1. R_Kelly,
    Jul 23, 2012 1:41 PM   in reply to FlashKatt
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    If you make your intial selection and then say you add to the selection when you really wanted to subtract, you can use Ctrl (cmd)+Z to just undo the the added part of the selecton

    without losing your whole selection.

     
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  • FlashKatt
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    2. FlashKatt,
    Jul 23, 2012 1:43 PM   in reply to R_Kelly
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    Right. but what I'm hoping for maybe needs to be on my list to Santa...to undo not my last selection, but to reverse the operation I tried to do with it.

     

    maybe that's just too out there...

     

    reason I ask about it is that some selections are just plain tedious to make and after 8 hours of doin' it, making a dumb mistake is just not fun.

     

    Maybe I need me an anti-dumb-mistak-in-ator..

     
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  • R_Kelly
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    3. R_Kelly,
    Jul 23, 2012 1:50 PM   in reply to FlashKatt
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    You might look at using channels to make selections or if your cutting out an object layer masks or paths/vector masks.

     
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  • R_Kelly
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    4. R_Kelly,
    Jul 23, 2012 2:36 PM   in reply to FlashKatt
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    For example rather than using the lasso tool to do the whole selection, you could make a quick rough selection of the area and then use a layer mask

    or channel to refine the selection.

     

    Or if you use paths it's a lot easier to work with paths than the lasso tool and paths can be converted to selections.

     
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  • FlashKatt
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    5. FlashKatt,
    Jul 23, 2012 2:40 PM   in reply to R_Kelly
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    OK, I'm intrigued..how can layer masks or channels be used to refine a rough lasso selection?

     

    thank you!

     

    kat

     
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  • Sharon Huang
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    6. Sharon Huang,
    Jul 23, 2012 3:01 PM   in reply to FlashKatt
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    R_Kelly's suggestion may be your best bet. Layer masks can be extremely helpful because you can add/ subtract your selection back and forth without worrying about getting the selection perfect the first try.

     

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/40758/how-to-use-layer-masks-and-vector -masks-to-remove-complex-backgrounds-in-photoshop/

     
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  • conroy
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    7. conroy,
    Jul 23, 2012 3:07 PM   in reply to R_Kelly
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    I often store selections as alpha channels to fall back on if I botch modifying selection, or if I suspect that I might want to elaborate on the selection later.

     

    I keep the Channels Panel visible and storing a selection is a simple click on the button highlighted in this image.

     

    store-selection.png

     

    Then reload the selection at any time by Cmd-clicking the channel thumbnail.

     

    recall-selection.png

     

    Shift, Opt and Shift+Opt modify the Cmd-click to provide add, subtract and intersect with current selection.

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    21,326 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    8. Noel Carboni,
    Jul 23, 2012 7:12 PM   in reply to FlashKatt
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    FlashKatt wrote:

     

    using selection tools, especially the Lasso tools where I want to subtract from or add toan existing selection, but I hit the wrong key and end up adding to it instead.

     

    We've all done things like that and wished we could use the same mouse movements for something else.

     

    My favorite misktake to make is to leave a feathering setting in the options for a selection tool (e.g., Polygonal Lasso), then go through some tedious mouse operations only to have it end up selecting a fuzzy blob...  That's one of those awsh** moments.

     

    As stated above, many folks have taught themselves to use paths so that they can use them for multiple operations or use them over again.  I use paths sometimes, but sometimes I just need to select something and prefer to go directly to it.

     

    Invariably, it turns out not to be so terribly hard to redo the work.

     

    Also, something perhaps not mentioned... Make sure to try out the Quick Selection Tool.  It can actually do a pretty good job.

     

    -Noel

     
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