Lynda Photoshop CS4 Selections in Depth

Choosing the right selection tools for the job and using those tools effectively are among the most important skills for Photoshop users. In Photoshop CS4: Selections in Depth, senior trainer and photographer Jan Kabili goes deep into the subject, showing the best practices for making and working with selections. Jan looks through the manual and automatic selection methods in Photoshop and offers pointers on choosing the most effective selection methods for an image. She explains the underlying relationship between selections and alpha channels and shows how to fine-tune selections to get the required results.

Topics include:

* Selecting manually with the Marquee, Lasso, and Pen tools;
* Saving time with automatic selection methods like the Quick Selection tool and the Magic Wand tool;
* Fine-tuning selections with Refine Edge;
* Working with selections in Quick Mask mode;
* Moving, modifying, and combining selections;
* Saving selections as alpha channels;
* Making complex selections from color channels;
* Using the Background Eraser tool to replace a background;
* Installing and using the legacy Extract plug-in to isolate an object from its background.

Author: Jan Kabili
Duration (hh:mm:ss): 03:51:00

The Course Includes:

Introduction Welcome
Using the exercise files

1. Selection Basics 00:21:01
* Why select?
* What is a selection?
* Deselecting and reselecting;
* Hiding a selection boundary;
* Using the Select All command.

2. Manual Selection Methods 00:38:56
* Using the Rectangular Marquee tool;
* Using the Elliptical Marquee tool;
* Drawing freehand selections with the Lasso tool;
* Selecting straight edges with the Polygonal Lasso tool;
* Selecting with the Pen tool and paths;
* Making selections from shapes.

3. Automatic Selection Methods 00:37:01
* Using the Quick Selection tool;
* Using the Magic Wand tool;
* Working with the Color Range feature;
* Selecting edges with the Magnetic Lasso tool;
* Selecting layer transparency;
* Selecting image luminosity.

4. Modifying Selections 00:33:00
* Moving selections;
* Transforming selections;
* Using contextual commands for transformation;
* Inverting selections;
* Anti-aliasing selections;
* Feathering selections;
* Fine-tuning selections in Refine Edge.

5. Saving and Loading Selections 00:24:27
* Saving selections;
* Loading and modifying saved selections;
* Saving selections to other images;
* Creating layer masks from selections;
* Loading selections from layer masks.

6. Combining and Extending Selections 00:15:41
* Adding, subtracting, and intersecting selections
* Combining selections to build a graphic
* Expanding selections with Grow and Similar

7. Working in Quick Mask Mode 00:22:01
* Cleaning up selections in Quick Mask;
* Creating selections from scratch in Quick Mask;
* Changing Quick Mask options;
* Varying edge softness in Quick Mask;
* Filtering selections in Quick Mask;
* Making Step and Repeat selections in Quick Mask.

8. Complex Selections 00:35:53
* Making selections from color channels;
* Working with the Background Eraser tool;
* Pasting into selections;
* Installing the legacy Extract filter;
* Using the Extract filter.

Conclusion
Goodbye.