How to Select Freeform Shapes With Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements is an Adobe software program providing image processing tools in a user-friendly format. Many people use Photoshop Elements for digital scrapbooking and for retouching digital photos. One basic skill you need to learn is how to select freeform objects using the lasso tool. The lasso tool allows you to select images or portions of images.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop Elements. Use the drop-down "File" menu to open a picture you want to edit.

2. Select the lasso tool. It is located in the toolbar and looks like a rope lasso.

3. Select the area by holding down the right button on your mouse and dragging the lasso pointer around the area you want to select.

4. Release your mouse when you are done selecting the area. When you release the mouse button, the selection should be outlined with a line that looks like marching ants.

5. Decide if you want to move, delete, copy or deselect the area you selected with the lasso tool. Move the selected area by choosing the arrow from the toolbar. Click within the outline and move the selection. Delete the selected area by pushing the delete key on your keyboard. Copy the area using the "Copy" and "Paste" functions from the drop-down edit menu. Deselect the area by choosing "deselect" from the "Select" drop-down menu or simply click within the selected image with the lasso tool.