Eraser Tool (Photoshop) – Part 1

Eraser Tool

Eraser Tool is used to erase any part of the selected layer on the image. Eraser tool is commonly used for removing backgrounds from images. Eraser tool is very important tool in Photoshop. The shortcut is ‘E’. We can change to Eraser tool by pressing ‘E’ on keyboard or click on Eraser tool on tool bar.

There are three types of Eraser tools. Those are Eraser Tool, Background Eraser Tool and Magic Eraser tool. The shortcut is common to these three tools. But, the type of erasing is different. First tool is normal Eraser Tool. In this tool there are three modes on top of menu. Those are Brush, Pencil and Block.

If Brush mode is selected, the eraser shape will be in brush shapes. We can use any bush shape to erase. For increasing and decreasing eraser brush shape size use ‘[‘key on keyboard for decrease and ‘]’ key on keyboard to increase eraser shape size. When ‘Caps Locks’ key is on, the eraser shape will appear in ‘+’ symbol and we can’t see the shape and size of the eraser. So, while erasing switch off Caps Lock key.

I will explain the remaining two Eraser modes in my next post.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 3

Select Menu Options (Continued form previous post):

Feather – This selecting menu option is useful for giving feather (Soft edges) to already drawn selection. This feather option can be given to any selection on the image and then soft edges will apply to existing selection. If feather value is not given to any selection before drawing on the image and we want to give feather to that selection then this option is very useful. If more feather value is given in pixels, then more softness will apply to the selection. This result can be seen after apply some operations like filling color, coping image to other image or location, applying mask etc.

Note: Remaining options will continue on next post.

For questions please comment.


Modify – Modify has four options (Border, Smooth, Expand and Contract). This option is useful for selection like Magic Wand Tool selection. Border split the selection border into two selections and gives feather. Smooth is useful for rounding for sharp corners and sharp corners of the selection will convert in rounded corners with given radius. Expand is used to spread more pixels with given pixel value with same shape of selection. Contract is used to reduce the size of the selection with given value of pixels.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 2

Select Menu Options (Continued from prvious post):

Select Menu Options

All Layers – Selects all layers in layers palette. But it don’t select Background layer. Shortcut is Alt+Ctrl+A on keyboard.

Deselect Layers – Deselects all layers. There will be no selected layer in the layers palette. At that time we can’t do anything on image. To do any work like using any tool, applying filters, other operations etc. Any one of the layer must be selected. To Merge, Group and Link select more than one layers.

Similar Layers – Selects same type of layers like Text layers, Shape Layers, Mask Layers, Fill Layers, Normal Layers, Groups etc. for example if Text layer is the current layer, then all text layers in layers palette will select. If Fill layer if the current layer selected, then all fill layers in layers palette will select.

Color Range – It selects selected color with Eyedropper tool on entire layer or in any selected part of the layer. Add to Sample option to add another color to the selection. Subtract from Sample option for removing any color form selected colors. A preview window will display selected colors in grayscale. In Selection Preview menu there are None, Grayscale, Black Matte, White Matte and Quick Mask options and these show previews directly on the image. Fuzziness option is to adjust the range of selected color. If the slider moves left side less colors selected and if the slider moves right side more colors will select. Invert option to inverts the selection. It leaves the selected area and selects remaining area. On Select menu option, any color is selected, then only that color will select on the image. If re is selected then all red color pixels will select.

Color Range Menu

Note : Remaining options of Select menu will continue on next post.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 1

In Select Menu there are different types of selection options. All those options related to selection only. With that selection we can do many things like deleting backgrounds, deleting unwanted areas, giving strokes, color filling, applying filters, applying masks, making brushes, making shapes, converting into shapes, applying Adjustments options, copy, cut, paste into selection, transform selected parts etc.

Select Menu

The Select Menu options are:

All – It select entire current layer of the image. The shortcut is Ctrl+A on keyboard.

Deselect – It removes any selection on the image. Shortcut is Ctrl+D on keyboard.

Reselect – It reselects (select again) last time deselected selection on image. Shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+D on keyboard.

Inverse – It inverse selection, which means it leaves selected part and selects remaining part of the image. Shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+I on keyboard.

Note : Remaining options of Select menu will continue on next post.

Quick Mask Mode (Photoshop)

Quick Mask Mode is used to select any part of the image. It is also useful for protect any part of the image from editing. Filters, color changes, deleting etc. can be done on masked area. The shortcut of Quick Mask Mode is ‘Q’ on keyboard. Quick Mask Mode option available on toolbar below Foreground and Background colors button. By default Standard Mode is selected. Standard Mode and Quick Mask Mode buttons located side by side on bottom of the toolbar. Both modes haves the same shortcut.

Quick Mask Mode

Selecting a part of the image with Quick Mask Mode:

1. Open any image you want to select.

2. Click on Quick Mask Mode button or press ‘Q’ key on keyboard.

3. Press ‘D’ key on keyboard to set default foreground and background colors. By default foreground color is black and background color is white. Switch between Foreground and Background color by using ‘X’ key on keyboard or click on small toggle arrow with mouse.

4. After selecting Quick Mask Mode button, select Brush tool and with brush tool draw (paint with brush tool) where you want to select.

5. For painting use Black as Foreground Color and for removing painting on unwanted areas use White color as Foreground.

6. Double click on Quick Mask Mode button to get Quick Mask Options menu. In that menu select Masked Areas to change painted area into selected area. If Selected Areas option is selected the painted area will not select and the remaining area will select. By clicking on color you can change painting color and Opacity option for making painting color dark and light.

7. Now click on Standard Mode button or press ‘Q’ key on keyboard. Then the painted area will convert into selection.

Painted in Quick Mask Mode with Brush Tool

Selection after Quick Mask Mode painting

 

With this selection we can do anything like deleting or removing background for any image, fill color, apply color, apply layer mask etc.

For any questions please comment.