How to effectively use the magic wand tool in Adobe Photoshop

The magic wand tool is good for selecting object of uniform color and sharp edges from the background. Inorganic objects have sharp edges and a few color so the magic wand tool can easily select it from the background. The magic wand tool is the easiest selection tool in Adobe Photoshop.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a picture
• Adobe Photoshop CS2

1. 
   numbers on sky image

   Open the image in Adobe Photoshop. In this article, I am using an image with a couple different numbers on sky background. Follow my article with the same image if you want.

2. 
   magic wand in Adobe Photoshop

   Get the magic wand tool from the tool's box.

3. Click on the number that you wish to select. For example, I am clicking on the white number 3. It now selects the white number 3 on my image.

4. If you want to select a couple of numbers at the same time, go to the tool's option's bar and select the icon that allows you to add to your selection. Now click on the other numbers you wish to select and photoshop will select all of them for you.

5. A selection outline is important because it allows you to remove the object from its background to a new image.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use the magic wand tool for organic objects such as people, animals, plants and etc.
• If the background is mostly one color, select the background instead and inverse your selection to select the object.

[imagery]

on 10/14/2008 Remember you can "right click" on the selection to add or subtract adjacent areas. This allows you to build your selection. See my article from last year,
http://www.ehow.com/how_2102281_use-magic-wand-tool-photoshop.html.

[SimplySmart]

on 10/13/2008 Thanks for this tutorial!

[momandpopoften]

on 10/13/2008 Good information. Thanks.

[MIghtyDreamer]

on 10/13/2008 never tried it but is sounds simple with your explanation