Lesson 7 - Objectives 6-8 (Wednesday)
B07-06 Skill: Use the magic wand and quick selection tools to make selections
Objectives:
Please download the examples and practice using these tools. Each has a place in the selection arsenal of Photoshop, and are important to know. Knowing how and when to use each selection tool will save you time as you become skilled in the use of each one.
- Understand and be able to use the magic wand tool and the quick selection tool in Photoshop.
Please download the examples and practice using these tools. Each has a place in the selection arsenal of Photoshop, and are important to know. Knowing how and when to use each selection tool will save you time as you become skilled in the use of each one.
Watch the video, "Learn how to use the Magic Wand tool to make Selections in Photoshop | Adobe Creative Cloud." Then try out the magic wand yourself using the image below.
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Watch the video, "Remove Backgrounds Using The Quick Selection Tool | Adobe Photoshop." Then give it a try on the image of the flag. Remember the shortcut keys for adding to or subtracting from a selection.
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B07-07 Practice: Refine a selection you've made to include the fine details
Objectives:
- Remove a subject from an image, and then place the subject in a design of your own.
You've learned quite a few selection methods so far in this lesson, including using select and mask. Select and mask takes some time to master. This short video will help. Please begin this objective by watching the video, "Select and Mask Taskspace in Photoshop."
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For this exercise, create a design where you use selection tools you've learned to pull a subject out of its background (links to a different subject you could use) and then place it in your own design. For your subject, pick one that has fur, hair, or other fine detail that needs to be selected.. One example is shown below, along with this help video. Your design is your own choice - there are limitless possibilities with this exercise! Pexels and Pixabay has lots of free image download you can choose from. This exercise also would make a wonderful portfolio exhibit! If you wish, you can use the images below (click on each to download them).
When you finished this exercise, save your Photoshop file as B07-07_Name.psd. This file will be required as part of the lesson assignment. |
If you're able to do this, you've really come a long way in Photoshop. It's pretty amazing how easy the tools are to use, once you know how. It is worth the time to practice this kind of exercise several times. The only selection work that gets better than this is using channels and masks. So let's quickly review about masks...
B07-08 Quick Review: What is a mask? How are masks used?
Objectives:
- Take a moment to do a quick review about how masks work in Photoshop. Research shows that when you review material several times over time, the learning sticks better each time. That's what this objective is all about - making what you've learned about masks to stick in memory better.
To begin, please review and work through this page on the basics of masks... Also watch the video, "How to use Layer Mask? Photoshop CC Tutorial." It will give you another person's perspective on what masks are.
So, what is a mask? A mask is a selection. A powerful selection tool. White paint on a mask is totally selected - and it shows the areas of the layer where white is painted on the mask. Black paint on the mask is where there is no selection - and the layer the mask is on is hidden wherever the mask is painted black. And all the shades of grey in between are partially transparent. How is it a selection? If you Command-Click (CTRL-Click on PC) on a mask, it will turn into a 'marching ants' selection.
Combining various selection methods and using them to create a mask is an extremely powerful way to adjust images in Photoshop.
So, what is a mask? A mask is a selection. A powerful selection tool. White paint on a mask is totally selected - and it shows the areas of the layer where white is painted on the mask. Black paint on the mask is where there is no selection - and the layer the mask is on is hidden wherever the mask is painted black. And all the shades of grey in between are partially transparent. How is it a selection? If you Command-Click (CTRL-Click on PC) on a mask, it will turn into a 'marching ants' selection.
Combining various selection methods and using them to create a mask is an extremely powerful way to adjust images in Photoshop.