# PhotoshopElements

# Use the Magnetic Lasso tool

The Magnetic Lasso tool draws a selection border that automatically snaps to the edges of objects you drag over in the photo. This makes it easy to draw precise selection borders. The Magnetic Lasso tool is useful for quickly selecting objects with complex edges set against high-contrast backgrounds.
Magnetic Lasso tool options

A.
  Lasso tool

B.
  Polygonal Lasso tool

C.
  Magnetic Lasso tool

D.
  New selection

E.
  Add to selection

F.
  Subtract from selection

G.
  Intersect with selection

1. Select the Magnetic Lasso tool from the toolbox.

   To switch between the Magnetic Lasso and other lasso tools when the Magnetic Lasso tool is selected, do one of the following:

   - To activate the Lasso tool, Option-drag.

   - To activate the Polygonal Lasso tool, Option-click.

2. (Optional) Set Magnetic Lasso tool options in the options bar located above your image:

   - Specify whether to create a new selection, add to an existing selection, subtract from a selection, or select an area intersected by other selections.

   - To soften the selection border so that it blends into the area outside the selection, enter a Feather value.

   - To smooth the edges of your selection, select Anti-aliased.

   - To specify the area of edge detection, enter a pixel value between 1 and 256 for Width. The tool detects edges only within the specified distance from the pointer.

     To change the Magnetic Lasso pointer so that it indicates the area of edge detection (the Width value), press the Caps Lock key.

   - To specify the Magnetic Lasso tool’s sensitivity to edges in the photo, enter a value between 1% and 100% for Edge Contrast. A higher value detects only edges that contrast sharply with their surroundings; a lower value detects lower-contrast edges.

   - To specify the rate at which the Magnetic Lasso tool sets fastening points, enter a value between 0 and 100 for Frequency. A higher value anchors the selection border in place more quickly.

3. Add segments of a selection border by doing one of the following:

   - Click points along the edge.

   - Drag along the edge while pressing the mouse button.

     The selection border snaps to the edge in the photo. If the border doesn’t snap to the desired edge, click once to add a point manually; then continue tracing the border and clicking points as needed. If you make a mistake, press the Delete key to erase points along the border.

4. Close the selection border by doing one of the following:

   - To close the border manually, drag back over the starting point and click. A closed circle appears next to the pointer when you are over the starting point.

   - To close the border with a freehand magnetic segment, double-click or press Enter.

   - To close the border with a straight segment, double-click while pressing Option.

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