Eraser Tool (Photoshop) – Part 2

Eraser Tool and Three Modes

Eraser tool Pencil mode is similar to Brush mode eraser. Shortcuts and everything is same. The difference is Brush mode eraser has smooth edges. It fills with light color and less opacity in gaps between pixels of brush shape edges. Pencil mode eraser it sharp edges because it doesn’t fills any pixels at gaps of curved edge pixels. It deletes complete pixels under the eraser brush shape. If less part of pixels will not delete.

If we want to delete in straight line, with eraser tool click on one palace and click with Shift key on keyboard pressed on other place. Then starting and ending points we clicked will be joined and deletes in a straight line. We can do it continuously while deleting with eraser tool using Shift key on keyboard pressed. This process is same to all three Eraser modes.

Block Eraser mode is different from Brush and Pencil modes. In this mode eraser tool shape is in square shape. It deletes entire pixel under the brush tool like Pencil eraser mode. Block eraser shape cannot be changed. In Zoom in and Zoom out the size is same. We can’t increase or decrease Block eraser size on any size or any Zooming percent of the image. This mode is useful to erase exact pixels.

If Alt key on keyboard is pressed while erasing, the eraser tool will change into History brush tool. That means, if we want any deleted part of the image, press Alt key with same Eraser tool at that place. Erased will restore at that place. This option is common to all three Eraser tool modes.

To erase completely, use full opacity (100%) on top of the menu. In right click popup menu you can change Diameter, Hardness and Brush Shape. If less hardness is given, the edges of the eraser shape will be lighter and smooth. If full hardness (100%) is given in Eraser Brush Palette, then erase with complete opacity with eraser shape.

Note: I will explain about Brush Tool in future post.

Magic Wand Tool (Photoshop)

Magic Wand Tool is a selection tool. It selects pixels based on color and tolerance. Tolerance is the main part of this tool. It selects based on given tolerance. When Magic Wand Tool is selected the Tolerance option will appear on top of menu. If more tolerance is given (enter the value in pixels between 0 to 255) large part of same color pixels with less difference will select. If less tolerance is given it selects less part of area with same color pixels will select.

Magic Wand Tool

Magic Wand tool selects same color of pixels until the edge (until other color pixel touches). The selection doesn’t enter into other color. If other color wants to be selected press Shift key on keyboard while clicking with Magic Wand tool. It adds one color of selection to other color selection. To subtract any selection, click on selection with pressing Alt key on keyboard.

Magic Wand Tool Selection and Tolerance

For smooth edges select Anti-aliased option on top menu. If Contiguous option on menu is selected, same color selects until the edge. If Contiguous is deselected, the same color without connection will select on entire image. That means if we click on red color, entire red color on the image without connection with each other will select.

Bitmap mode images and 32 bit per channel images are not useful for Magic Wand Tool.

Any doubts please comment.

Move Tool (Photoshop)

The move tool is located at the top right of the Photoshop Toolbox. The Move tool is used to move a selection on an image of selected part of layer or entire selected layer by dragging it with mouse or by using keyboard arrows keys. Hold down Alt key on keyboard to copy the selection or layer object. If Alt key is not pressed while moving, the selected part will move but it cuts from original location. With this Move tool any Layer or selected part of the layer can be copied from one image to other opened image by dragging and dropping. Guides and Annotations can be moved with Move tool. After moving the Annotations, Move tool will change in to Annotation tool.

Move Tool Selected

After selecting the move tool, click and drag anywhere in the image. If an area is selected the selection will be moved, otherwise the whole layer will be moved. While moving the objects on the layer with Shift key pressed then the object will moves in straight lines (Horizontal, Vertical or Cross). If Snap options (In main menu View -> Snap to -> Guides, Grid, Layers, Slices and Document Bounds) are selected, then the objects in the layer will move with breaks at Guides, Grid, Layer edges or center points, Slices and Document Bounds (Four sided image edges). If there is no snap, the objects will move freely on the image without any brakes. Double click on Guides to open Preferences-> Guides, Grid and Slices Popup menu.

Preferences Popup Menu

Guide Line and Selected Part of the Image

If mouse right button is pressed with Move tool selected, then a popup menu will appear showing all the layer names under the move tool. From that popup menu any layer can be selected directly by clicking on layer name. Locked Background layer cannot be moved with Move tool. If Background Layer wants to be moved, then double click or Alt+Double click on it to convert from Background Layer to normal Layer. Paths on the Image also don’t move with Move tool. To move Paths, use Path Selection tool. Alternatively, use your arrow keys to move the selection or layer in small increments. Hold down the Shift key to move in larger increments.

You can activate the move tool when another tool is selected by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac OS). Shortcut for move tool is “V”. Press “V” button on keyboard to switch on Move tool from any other tool.

Note: If any doubts or questions please comment. I will respond immediately.