Why select?

By making selections, we can isolate certain parts of an image so that only that portion of the image can be edited.
In GIMP, we have some tools that we can use to select parts of an image.
These tools (A) and their options (B) are found in the toolbox, along with a number of them under the “Select” and “Tools” menus in the menu bar.

 

Select / Deselect

To select a portion of the image, we use a selection of the many tools which we have in GIMP.
For example, the “Rectangle Select” tool (1).
Select this tool in the toolbox and click and drag it on the section of the photo you want to select (A).
When the mouse is released, you will see the marquee move as stripes on the picture.
The portion of the picture that is in the bounding box is selected (B).
The portion that falls outside, is not selected.

 

You can resize the selected portion, by placing the mouse pointer over the edge of the selection, and when you see a block, click and drag it (C).
You can change the position of the selected image, by placing the mouse pointer over the center of the selected place, and when it changes into a four-headed arrow (D), click and drag.

 

You can highlight and dim the selected portions and the ones that aren’t selected, by selecting the “Highlight” option in the Options section (1).

In the Options section, we can change the position and dimensions of the selected image(2).

 

 

When you find what you want, to select, press the Enter key on your keyboard.

 

If you wish to de-select it, click “Select” in the menu bar and select “Nothing” in the drop-down menu.

If you want to invert the selection, or “to run” click “Select” in the menu bar and select “Invert” from the drop-down menu.
This will select everything that was not selected, and everything that was selected, will be de-selected.

 

Selection Options

When a selection tool is selected, we find a number of options that we can use to edit this selection.

Because these options are almost same for each selection tool, I will discuss the rectangle select tool.

At the top, we find the different modes (1), which let you set for a new selection.
You can add a selection to the current selection and you can also Subtract a selection from the current selection.
You can even cut a portion from the current selection.
The latter will remove the new selection from the previous selection.

Below that we have the “Anti-aliasing” option.
If we use this, the so-called cartel effect that occurs, will be reduced.

Next is the “Feather Edges” option.
We use it to transition softly and smoothly between the selected and de-selected portions. Or rather, this is used to conceal the division.

Next you have the “Rounded corners” option.
Its obvious that you do not have this option when using the Oval selection tool.

The next option, which is “Expand from center” starts performing the selection from the center.

The option “Fixed” is used to change the aspect ratio. You can also set the height, the width or size to a fixed value.

 

We also have the options, “Position”, “Size” and “Highlight”.

The last option which is “No Guides” is quite obvious.

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