Photoshop Elements /

Selection Tools /

Selection Tools Flow Chart /

Mechanical Selection Tools /

Introduction

You do the drawing with the mechanical selection tools.

If you have a desktop and a laptop, use the computer with the best mouse.

If you'll be making lots of selections, consider replacing your mouse with a tablet or trackball.

Go to Jettison Your Mouse.

There are six mechanical selection tools.

The Magnetic Lasso tool has both magical and mechanical qualities.

Selection Tools Chart

The chart below displays the selection tool families.

The six mechanical selection tools are highlighted with blue.

There are descriptions of each tool below.

Tool Families	Tools
Marquee Tools	Elliptical Marquee Tool	Rectangular Marquee Tool
Lasso Tools	Lasso Tool	Magnetic Lasso Tool	Polygonal Lasso Tool
Magic Wand Tool	Magic Wand Tool
Selection Brush Tools	Magic Selection Brush Tool (4.0 & 5.0)	Quick Selection Tool (6.0)	Selection Brush Tool

The Mechanical Selection Tools

Experiment with the tools below.

Marquee Tool Family

You use the Marquee tools to make selections of ovals, circles, rectangles, and squares.

Elliptical Marquee Tool

Rectangular Marquee Tool

Go to the Marquee Tool Family.

Lasso Tool Family

You use the Lasso Tool Family members to make selections of curves and straight edges.

Lasso Tool

Magnetic Lasso Tool

Polygonal Lasso Tool

Go to the Lasso Tool Family.

Selection Brush Tool Family

Selection Brush Tool

The Selection Brush tool is multi-purpose.

Selection Brush Tool

Go to the Selection Brush Tool.