Prevent selection in Polygon Lasso Tool

[jasonchan]

Hi I am a photoshop newbie. I am trying to figure out how to use the polygon lasso tool. I know it is used to cut images out of a picture. I have zoomed in and out with Ctrl+ Alt+ Click, drag the item using the hand tool but I still cannot get the hang of this tool. Sometimes, it automatically selects a portion of the image, the portion that I was clicking, but i want to capture more than that. What am I doing wrong? How can I reverse the step. I tried using the layers panel but there is no history of where I clicked previously before this happend. I hope someone out there understands what I am sayin and could provide some help. Much appreciated. Thanks ..


Newcomer <--Noobie

[urstwile]

Jason,

Did you ever do those puzzles in the newspaper where you connected the dots?

That's kinda how the polygon lasso tool works. Click: you have a point established on your selection, next Click: you have the next point established on your selection, and so on. Bring it all the way around (by clicking on each point of the image you want to include in your selection) and you'll get a little icon over your cursor that shows you that you're closing your selection down. (it kinda looks like a teeny temperature degree symbol).

I hope that helps.

The history palette won't show you the history of your clicks (although that would be an AWESOME feature). It will only really show you actions you've performed on an image, outside of making selections (although it will remember completed selections, just not the path to making them).

[Emmanize]

You can’t reverse it. I know when I have messed up right near the end and I have had to do it all again. Zoom into your image; use the PL Tool to click around your image, when you touch your starting point (i.e. made a full circle so to speak) the line will flash a little. Go back to your arrow tool, right click and copy, open a new canvas and paste. From there you just smooth out your edges. Doing this on dark photos in annoying, and try doing this on a photo of a fluffy animal….nightmare. :eek:

Hope that helps.

[PrintDriver]

After you click a point and decide you don't want it there, immediately hit the delete key and it will release the point (but not the tool).
You only get one undo with this tool.

btw, this answer is also in the PS help index right under Polygon Lasso Tool...

As for the original question, you have 3 lasso tools. If it is automatically snapping, are you sure you aren't: a) using the magnetic lasso, B) holding down the option/alt key, or C) holding down the shift key.

[morea]

^ yup, it works.

welcome to the forum