Adding to or subtracting from existing selections in Photoshop is straightforward. You primarily use keyboard shortcuts or the Options bar to achieve this.
Adding to a Selection
To add to an existing selection:
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Use the Keyboard: Select your tool (e.g., Marquee, Lasso). Hold down the Shift key while making your new selection. A plus sign (+) will appear next to your cursor, indicating that you are adding to the selection.
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Use the Options Bar: After making your initial selection, locate the Options bar at the top of the Photoshop window. Click the "Add to selection" icon (it usually looks like a square with a plus sign inside). Then, make your additional selection with your chosen tool.
Subtracting from a Selection
To subtract from an existing selection:
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Use the Keyboard: Select your tool. Hold down the Alt key (Option key on macOS) while making your new selection. A minus sign (-) will appear next to your cursor, signifying that you're subtracting from the selection.
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Use the Options Bar: In the Options bar, you might find a "Subtract from selection" icon (often a square with a minus sign). Click it before making your subtractive selection.
Creating a New Selection from Scratch
If you are not adding to or subtracting from an existing selection, you simply use any of Photoshop's selection tools (Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick Selection, etc.) to make your selection without any modifiers pressed.
Combining Multiple Selections
Photoshop provides flexibility in handling multiple selections:
- Selecting multiple areas simultaneously: Hold Shift while using a selection tool to add multiple separate areas to your selection.
- Combining existing selections: The method described above allows you to add or subtract areas from a main selection.
Remember to save your work regularly!
