Chapter 7: Manipulating Selections
Making a selection in Photoshop Elements isolates a specific area of your image. This chapter shows you how to move, stretch, erase, and manipulate your selection in a variety of ways. You can use these techniques to rearrange people and objects in your image, enlarge elements to give them prominence, or delete things altogether.
Add to or Subtract from a Selection
Feather the Border of a Selection
Add to or Subtract from a Selection
You can add to or subtract from your selection by using various selection tool options. Adding enables you to select a large object in your image by making multiple selections. By subtracting, you can fix a selection that includes extraneous pixels.
Most selection tools have add and subtract settings in the Options bar. You can also create a selection using one selection tool and then add to or subtract from the selection using other tools. See Chapter 6 to learn how to choose the appropriate tool for selecting elements in your photo.
Add to or Subtract from a Selection
Add to Your Selection
In the Editor, make a selection by using one of the selection tools.
Note: For more on opening the Editor, see Chapter 1.
Click a selection tool.
This example uses the Magnetic Lasso tool (
).
Click the Add to Selection button (
).
Select the area you want to add.
Complete the selection. In this example, the starting point is clicked to complete the selection.
Photoshop Elements adds to the selection.
You can enlarge the selection further by repeating steps 2 to 5.
You can also add to a selection by pressing 
as you select an area.
Subtract From Your Selection
Make a selection by using one of the selection tools.
Click a selection tool.
This example uses the Rectangular Marquee tool (
).
Click the Subtract from Selection button (
).
Select the area you want to subtract.
A Photoshop Elements deselects, or subtracts, the selected area.
You can subtract other parts of the selection by repeating steps 2 to 4.
You can also subtract from a selection by pressing 
(
on a Mac) as you select an area.
TIPS
How do I add to or subtract from a selection by using the Quick Selection tool?
The Quick Selection tool (
) features different buttons for adding to or subtracting from a selection. In the Options bar, you can click the Add to Quick Selection button (
) to add to a selection and the Subtract from Quick Selection (
) button to subtract from a selection. You can also press and hold ( on a Mac) to switch to the subtraction mode.
Can I move the selection marquee without moving the item selected?
Yes. Use any of the selection tools to select an area and then press an arrow key — 
, 
, 
, 
— to move the selection in 1-pixel increments. Press and hold while pressing an arrow key to move the selection in 10-pixel increments. This technique is handy when you need to slightly nudge the marquee across your image.
Move a Selection
You can rearrange elements of your image by moving selections with the Move tool. This enables you to change the composition of your image to emphasize or de-emphasize certain elements. You can move elements of your image either in the default Background layer or in other layers you create for your image.
If you move elements in the Background layer, Photoshop Elements fills the original location with the current background color. If you move elements in another layer, Photoshop Elements makes the original location transparent, revealing any underlying layers. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Move a Selection
Move a Selection in the Background
In the Editor, display the Layers panel.
Note: For more on opening the Editor or opening panels, see Chapter 1.
Click the Background layer.
A newly imported image has only a Background layer.
Note: See Chapter 8 for more on using layers.
Make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: For more on selecting elements, see Chapter 6.
Click the Move tool (
).
Click inside the selection and then drag.
A Photoshop Elements fills the original location of the selection with the current background color.
B In this example, white is the default background color.
If you press ( on a Mac) while you drag, a copy of the selection is created.
Move a Selection in a Layer
Click a layer in the Layers panel.
Note: See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: See Chapter 6 for more on making selections.
Click the Move tool ().
Click inside the selection and then drag.
Photoshop Elements moves the selection and fills the original location of the selection with transparent pixels.
Note: Unlike the Background — the opaque default layer in Photoshop Elements — other layers can include transparent pixels.
TIPS
How do I move a selection in a straight line?
Press and hold while you drag with the Move tool (). Doing so constrains the movement of your selection horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, depending on the direction you drag.
How do I move several layers at a time?
You can link the layers you want to move, select one of the linked layers, and then move them all with the Move tool. For more, see Chapter 8. You can also 
+click (
+click on a Mac) to select multiple layers in the Layers panel. Using the Move tool moves the selected layers.
Duplicate a Selection
You can copy a selection and make a duplicate of it somewhere else in the image. You may use this technique to retouch an element in your photo by placing good content over bad. When you perform the copy using the Move tool and ( on a Mac), Photoshop keeps the duplicate in the same layer as the original.
You can also use the Copy and Paste commands to duplicate content in your image. This places the duplicate content in a new layer, which you can then freely move and transform independent of the rest of the image. For more using the Copy and Paste commands with layers, see Chapter 8.
Duplicate a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: For more on opening the Editor, see Chapter 1. For more on using selection tools, see Chapter 6.
Click the Move tool ().
A You can also click Copy and Paste in the Edit menu to copy and paste selections or press +
(+ on a Mac).
Press ( on a Mac) while you click and drag the selection.
Release the mouse button to drop the selection into place.
Photoshop Elements creates a duplicate of the selection and then places it in the new location.
Press 
to deselect the selection.
Delete a Selection
You can delete a selection to remove unwanted elements from an image. If you are working in the Background layer, Photoshop Elements turns deleted pixels the current background color. For more about specifying the background color, see Chapter 12. If you are working in a layer other than the Background layer, deleting a selection turns the selected pixels transparent, and layers below it show through. Another way to remove content from your image is to place that content in a layer and then hide the layer. You can reveal the layer to make the content reappear. For more about hiding layers, see Chapter 8.
Delete a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: For more on opening the Editor, see Chapter 1. For more on using selection tools, Chapter 6.
Press 
.
A Photoshop Elements deletes the contents of the selection.
B If you are working in the Background layer, the original location fills with the background color — in this example, white.
If you are working in a layer other than the Background layer, deleting a selection turns the selected pixels transparent, and layers below it show through.
Rotate a Selection
You can rotate a selection to tilt an element or turn it upside down in your image. You may rotate an element to create a better composition or to correct the appearance of an element. The Free Rotate Selection command, located under the Rotate submenu, enables you to rotate a selection an arbitrary amount. Other rotate commands let you rotate a selection a fixed number of degrees.
When you rotate a selection in the Background layer, Photoshop Elements replaces the exposed areas that the rotation creates with the current background color. If you rotate a selection in another layer, the underlying layers appear in the exposed areas. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Rotate a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
In this example, content in a layer is selected.
Note: See Chapter 6 for more on using selection tools. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Click Image.
Click Rotate.
Click Free Rotate Selection.
You can click other commands under the Rotate menu to rotate your selection in a more constrained way.
Click and drag outside the selection.
A You can precisely rotate your selection by typing percentage values in the W and H fields in the Options bar.
The selection rotates.
Click 
or press 
to commit the rotation.
B You can click 
or press to cancel.
Scale a Selection
You can scale a selection to make it larger or smaller. Scaling enables you to adjust or emphasize parts of your image. When you scale a selection in the Background layer, Photoshop Elements replaces the exposed areas that scaling to a smaller size creates with the current background color. If you scale a selection in another layer, the underlying layers appear in the exposed areas. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Scaling image content to a much larger size can decrease the quality of the content, making it blurry. You can correct blurriness using the Sharpen filter. See Chapter 9 for details.
Scale a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
In this example, content in a layer is selected.
Note: See Chapter 6 for more on using selection tools. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Click Image.
Click Resize.
Click Scale.
A box with handles on the sides and corners surrounds the selection.
Click and drag a handle to scale the selection.
Drag a corner handle to scale both the horizontal and vertical dimensions.
A You can precisely scale your selection by typing percentage values in the W and H fields in the Options bar.
B With Constrain Proportions selected, the height and width change proportionally.
Click or press to apply the scale effect.
C You can click or press to cancel.
Photoshop Elements scales the selection.
Skew or Distort a Selection
You can transform a selection by using the Skew or Distort commands. This enables you to stretch elements in your image into interesting shapes. You can also use skewing and distortion to make changes to perspective in your image. You can make an object appear as if it recedes into the distance. When you skew or distort a selection in the Background layer, Photoshop Elements replaces the exposed areas that the skewing or distorting creates with the current background color. If you skew or distort a selection in another layer, the underlying layers appear in the exposed areas. See Chapter 8 for more on layers.
Skew or Distort a Selection
Skew a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: For more on opening the Editor, see Chapter 1. See Chapter 6 for more on using selection tools.
Click Image.
Click Transform.
Click Skew.
A rectangular box with handles on the sides and corners surrounds the selection.
Click and drag a handle. Photoshop Elements skews the selection.
Because the Skew command works along a single axis, you can drag either horizontally or vertically.
Click or press to apply the skewing.
A You can click or press to cancel.
Distort a Selection
Make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: See Chapter 6 for more on using selection tools.
Click Image.
Click Transform.
Click Distort.
A rectangular box with handles on the sides and corners surrounds the selection.
Click and drag a handle.
Photoshop Elements distorts the selection. The Distort command works independently of the selection’s axes; you can drag a handle both vertically and horizontally.
Note: You can precisely distort your selection by typing percentage values in the W and H fields in the Options bar.
Click or press to apply the distortion.
B You can click or press to cancel.
TIP
How can I perform several transforming effects at once on a selection?
Click Image.
Click Transform.
Click Free Transform.
Click and drag a handle on the box that surrounds the selection to transform it.
Click or press to apply the effect.
Feather the Border of a Selection
You can feather a selection’s border to create soft edges. Feathering enables you to control the sharpness of the edges in a selection. You can use this technique with other layers to create a blending effect between the selected area and any underlying layers. Soft edges around content can add a sentimental or romantic feel to your image.
To create a soft edge around an object, you must first select the object, feather the selection border, and then delete the part of the image that surrounds your selection. You can change the final effect achieved by changing the applied background color.
Feather the Border of a Selection
Feather a Selection
In the Editor, make a selection with a selection tool.
Note: For more on opening the Editor, see Chapter 1. For more on using selection tools, see Chapter 6
Click Select.
Click Refine Edge.
The Refine Edge dialog box opens.
Click and drag the Feather slider (
) to determine the softness of the edge.
A Photoshop Elements shows a preview of the feathering.
B You can click and drag the Contract/Expand slider () to adjust the selection inward or outward.
Click OK.
Delete the Surrounding Background
Click Select.
Click Inverse.
You can also press ++
(++ on a Mac) to apply the Inverse command.
The selection inverts but remains feathered.
Press .
C If you are working with the Background layer, the deleted area is filled with the current background color.
If you are working with a layer other than the Background layer, the deleted area becomes transparent, and the layers below show through.
You can now see the effect of the feathering.