A word of explanation:

We can select a portion of an image when we just want to edit, copy or paste only the selected portion.
You can share a Raster layer and copy portions of a Vector layer.
However you can also copy portions of a Vector layer, a part of a text, for eg., and paste it in a new Raster layer.

In “PSP” we have some tools with which we can make “Selections”.

• We have the “Selection” tool with which we make a selection with a specific shape, such as a rectangle, square, oval, circle or star.

• We have the “Freehand selection” tool using which we make a selection around the edges of an object. In the “Freehand selection” tool we have four options:
  “Freehand”, “Edge Seeker”, “Point to point” and “Edge selection.”

1. With the “Free hand” tool we drag the mouse pointer around an area to select it.
2. “Edge Seeker” finds the edges between two areas with color differences when you click on the edges of irregularly shaped areas.
3. “Point to point” draws straight lines between points to create a selection with straight edges.
4. “Edge selection” automatically finds the edges of irregularly shaped areas when you click along the edges.

 

• We also have the “Magic Wand” tool, this makes a selection based on color, hue, brightness, or opacity of an object. We use this for selecting a portion of an image in which certain pixels are distinctly different from the others.

 

The “Selection” tool

To make a selection select the “Selection” Tool in the tool bar.
Before we begin, we first select the number of settings in the options bar.
First we select a selection type. Clicking on the arrow pointing downwards gives us a number of types, to choose from.

We select a mode where we have three options, namely, “Replace”, which adds another selection to an existing selection, “Add” which selects a new selection and “Delete” which deletes the existing selections.

The ‘Feather” option (0 to 200 pixels) softens the edges of a selection. Zero will create a selection with a hard edge, two hundred will create a selection with a soft edge.

The “Anti-alias” option fits a smooth edge on a selection using the semi-transparent pixels along the edges.

Click on the “Custom selection” button (1) to make a selection with a specific size.

 

By clicking on the “Current Selection from” option, (2) existing selections can be replaced by a rectangular selection.
For example, you have used the “Magic Wand” option to make a number of selections in your photo, one at the top left, another in the middle and another at the top right. When you click on the “Current Selection from” option you will get 3 selections and 1 rectangular selection can be made.

Clicking on the “Covering layer” button (3) will make a rectangular selection around all non-transparent areas of the current layer.
Otherwise, create a new image with a transparent background. Select “File” in the menu bar and select “New” in the drop-down menu. Draw a number of superimposed figures with the brush, and click this button. You will see that all characters are selected in a rectangular selection.

Finally we have the “Merged opaque” option (4), which performs the same function as the previous button and does this for all layers within the image.

 

When you’ve made a selection, with whichever option you use, you can only edit or copy the selected area and paste it to another layer or image.
For example, in the image below, I made a rectangular selection, I selected the “Brush” tool, so I can only use brush strokes in the selected part (1).

A tip: Sometimes you may select the wrong portion and then you can invert the selection (eg. If you have a flower on a solid background, it is much easier to select the plain background, and then select the flower).

A reverse selection is done by clicking on the “Selections” tab in the menu bar and selecting “Invert” from the drop-down menu.
The marquee now encloses the previously non-selected image area and closes the previously selected image area (2).

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