Photoshop Elements >
Selection Tools >
7 - Options Bar Settings
Common Options Bar Settings
Here are the common settings in the options bars of the selection
tools.
Critical options bar settings were discussed in the last section.
There are six settings.
1 - Icons on the Left End
Generally, the first icon, New selection, should be selected.
2 - Feather
Feathering makes the edge of a selection gradually fade to transparent.
If you select feathering in the options bar, before
you make a selection, the feathering can't be changed.
Instead, go to Select > Feathering, after you've made
a selection.
3 - Anti-alias
Anti-alias smoothes the jaggedness of the pixel corners from
the edges of curved selections by averaging the colors of the pixels
at the edge of a selection.
It should normally be selected.
When using the Rectangular Marquee tool, the anti-alias setting
is not operable..
4 - Mode
Mode & the Marquee Selection Tool Family
If Mode is set to Normal, you can draw a rectangle, square, oval,
or circle, with any size
Change Mode to Fixed ratio or to Fixed Size to restrict the aspect
ratio or size.
Mode & the Selection Brush Tool
Go to
Selection
Brush Tool Mop.
5 - All Layers
This is a handy setting.
Let's say you're retouching a portrait.
You have parts of the face of different layers.
The eyes are own their own layers.
The nose is on another layer, as is the mouth.
What if you want to select the face?
By selecting All Layers, the selection tool will combine the
layers, and the face can be selected easily.
6 - Hardness
Hardness is the same as feathering.
A brush with no feathering has a Hardness of 100%.
A brush with maximum feathering has a hardness of 0%.
Magnetic Lasso Tool Options Bar Settings
The default options-bar setting often work well for the Magnetic
Lasso tool.
If not, make adjustments in the options bar to the three settings below.
What It Does
The Width value determines how much of the photograph the Magnetic
Lasso tool can see.
Width is the "corridor" that the tool is scanning looking for
edges.
For example, at a setting of 3 pixels, the tool is examining
a 6-pixel-diameter circle.
Press the Caps Lock key to change the cursor to a brush, showing
the width that you're using.
Which Value?
If the edge is high contrast, set a wide width.
If the edge has little contrast, use a narrow width.
How to Change the Width
While Making a Selection
You can change the Width setting by pressing the [ and ] keys.
What It Does
The Edge Contrast percentage determines how much contrast an
edge needs for Photoshop Elements to consider it to be an edge.
Which Value?
If you enter a higher percentage, Photoshop Elements will only
find edges with lots of contrast.
If you enter a lower percentage, Photoshop Elements will find
edges with less contrast.
How to Change the Edge Contrast
While Making a Selection
Use the < and > keys to change the Edge Contrast setting.
What It Does
As you move the cursor, the Magnetic Lasso tool places fastening
points, black dots, along the edge.
Frequency establishes the spacing between the fastening points.
Which Value?
If the edge is irregular, use a higher value.
How to Change the Frequency
While Making a Selection
To reduce the frequency value, press the ; key.
To increase the rate, press the the ' key.
