Tool

How to select things perfectly with the lasso tool in Photoshop?

As you all know, the lasso tool is a vital tool in photoshop. I watched some videos and people seem to do it like it is nothing. What I want to know is if there are any tricks. I always do it and it comes up messed up and when I apply a different backgrounds it messes up so if u have any tips they would be greatley appreciated.

Public Comments

1. I recommend using the polygonnal lasso tool. If you use enough points on you get a perfectly rounded line, and it's significantly easier to control than the freehand lasso. You can also adjust your selection by using the shift key to increase the size, and the control key to decrease it (I think those shortcuts are right). This can help you make a more precise selection.
2. The first person gave you very good advice. The basic lasso tool is really not very precise. You want to use the polygonal lasso tool as he said. Your other options are to use the magnetic lasso, but this works best if you have high contrast edges or strong color differences between what you are trying to select and the background. The magnetic lasso will cling to the edges of the selection once you start selecting. The most precise selection tool is the Pen tool. In this case, you would have your Paths palette open (often it's under the Layers Palette, you should see a tab that says Path; if not go to Window>Paths). With the Pen tool selected, there's a set of three icons near the upper right of the Options bar on top of the file. Click on the middle one, because you want to create a Path not a Shape, or Fill pixels. Once you do that, start click and dragging around what you want to select. The Pen tool works a lot like the Pen tool in Illustrator. If you haven't used it, it does take some getting used to. Make sure you make your Path all the way around your selection, clicking on the point where you started. Each time you click with the mouse, you are creating an anchor point. If you click and drag you create handles, this can change the Path, help curve it and so on. Once you have completed your path, click on the Path thumbnail in the Path Palette, then select the Direct select tool (hollow arrow). It will allow you to click on individual anchors in the path and make adjustments to the Path. Once you are happy with that, go to the Path Palette. On the bottom of the Palette there's an icon that looks like a dotted circle. This is the Convert to Selection icon, click on this to convert your Path to a selection. You will see the "Marching ants." If you want to make more adjustments, you can either adjust the selection as you would with any other selection, or you can go back to the Paths Palette, click on the icon that looks like a circle with two lines coming out, one on each side and dots on the lines. This will convert the Selection back to a Path, and you can then adjust the Path some more as I described above. Then once again click on the Convert to selection icon. I have found that once you get used to using the Pen tool, you will want to use it more than any other selection tool if you need precision.
3. it also depends on the surrounding colors. if the object u want to lasso almost blends in with the background...ur gonna mess up. Not to mention, when u "finish" lassoing, the object comes out with ragged edges. and it looks every unprofessional. if that doesn't work. Try using 2 layers to erase around the object. I use this technique a lot and it always comes out awesome. I can control the softness of the eraser.