How to Use the Magic Wand Tool in Photoshop

The Magic Wand tool in Photoshop selects parts of the image based on their contrast ratios. You can use this tool to select areas of your image for transformation or to cut part of an image to paste in a new image.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop 6.0 or later running on a mac or PC platform
• A copy of an image for transformation

1. 
   Original Image

   Open Photoshop and select FILE and OPEN to browse for your image. Select the image with your mouse and click OK.

2. Select the Magic Wand Tool and use it to select the part of the image you want to correct. In this case we will select the yellow flower.

3. You will notice the image area you selected, enlarge that part of the image by zooming in. Look carefully at the image, you will see some areas surrounded by a moving dotted line. You can right click on these areas to add or subtract them from your image. Add all the areas of like contrast that you want to be changed by the transformation. Subtract those you don't want. You are just creating your selection not actually changing the image at this point.

4. 
   Adjusted Color

   In this case, we added all the like contrast areas within the yellow flower . We then selected IMAGE/ADJUST/COLOR BALANCE from the tabbed menus and changed the hue of the image. We could have just as easily applied a filter, cut or copied the selection.

Tips & Warnings

• This procedure takes some practice and requires the right image. Remember it will select all areas of like contrast.
• Zoom in and enlarge the image to work with the Magic Wand. It will not affect the size of your image.
• This procedure requires some patience and practice.
• It is very unusual for the Magic Wand to select your area perfectly, be prepared to right click and add and remove image areas from your selection.

Resources

• Adobe Photoshop

[Hapworth]

on 7/26/2008 I guess I've got to start working with photoshop. It's amazing what you can do.

[Sprice]

on 7/25/2008 wonderful info!

[LilacGirl]

on 7/25/2008 Great information.

[Susanh]

on 7/25/2008 That's beautiful! What a great tool. :)