Selections Made Fun
John 15:16
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
What Is a Selection?
Have you ever wanted to take one person or object out of a photo and place it somewhere completely different?
Maybe you want to put a dog on the moon, place your friend inside a video game, or make a giant cheeseburger sit on top of a building.
In Photoshop, you can do this by making a selection.
A selection tells Photoshop:
“This is the part of the image I want to work with.”
Once something is selected, you can move it, copy it, resize it, remove it, change its color, or place it into another image.
Think about our Scripture for this week:
John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
This week is all about choosing. In Photoshop, you will choose which parts of an image you want to use. More importantly, this Scripture reminds us that Yeshua chose His disciples for a purpose.
Selection Tool #1: Marquee Tool
The Marquee Tool is one of the easiest selection tools in Photoshop.
It allows you to select an area using a simple shape.
The two you will use most often are:
Rectangular Marquee Tool: Makes square or rectangular selections.
Elliptical Marquee Tool: Makes circular or oval selections.
For example, if you wanted to select a square picture hanging on a wall, the Rectangular Marquee Tool could work perfectly.
Best for: Objects with simple geometric shapes.
Selection Tool #2: Lasso Tool
Sometimes an object is not a perfect square or circle. That is when the Lasso Tool can help.
The Lasso Tool allows you to draw your own selection around an object.
Click and drag your mouse around the object you want. When you connect back to your starting point, Photoshop creates the selection.
The closer you trace around the object, the better your selection will be.
Best for: Irregular shapes and objects you want to trace manually.
Selection Tool #3: Quick Selection Tool
The Quick Selection Tool is one of the most useful tools for cutting objects out of photographs.
Instead of tracing the entire object yourself, you can brush over the object and Photoshop tries to recognize its edges.
For example, if you have a photograph of a person standing outside, you can brush over the person and Photoshop will attempt to select the person without selecting the entire background.
You can make your brush smaller when working around detailed areas like hair, hands, or clothing.
Best for: People, animals, cars, products, and other objects with recognizable edges
How Do I Know Which Tool to Use?
Look at the object first.
If it is shaped like a rectangle or circle, try the Marquee Tool.
If you want to draw around the object yourself, try the Lasso Tool.
If the object has clear edges and you want Photoshop to help find them, try the Quick Selection Tool.
A good graphic designer does not always use the same tool. You choose the tool that works best for the image.
In-Class Project: Create a Funny Scene
Now we are going to put these tools to work!
Your challenge is to create a funny or unusual scene by combining objects from different photographs.
You could create:
- A giant cat sitting on a house
- A student standing on the moon
- A fish flying through the sky
- A huge hamburger driving a car
- A tiny person sitting inside a coffee cup
- An elephant walking through the classroom
Be creative!
Step 1: Choose Your Images
Find several appropriate images that you can combine into one scene.
You will need a background image and at least 2 objects to cut out.
Step 2: Make Your Selection
Open an object image in Photoshop.
Choose the Marquee, Lasso, or Quick Selection Tool.
Carefully select the object you want to use.
Step 3: Move the Object
Once your object is selected, copy it and place it onto your background image.
Remember what we learned about layers last week. Your new object should appear on its own layer.
Step 4: Resize and Position
Use Free Transform to resize your object.
Ctrl + T on Windows
Command + T on Mac
Move and resize the object until it fits your funny scene.
Pay attention to proportion. Sometimes making something ridiculously large or tiny is exactly what makes the scene funny!
Step 5: Clean Up Your Selection
Zoom in and look carefully around the edges.
Ask yourself:
Did I accidentally leave part of the old background?
Did I cut off part of my object?
Do the edges look clean?
Small details can make a huge difference.
Class Challenge
Before you finish, make sure your scene includes:
✓ A background
✓ At least 2 cut-out objects
✓ At least 2 different selection tools
✓ Separate layers for your objects
✓ Clean edges
✓ Creative placement
✓ Something funny or unexpected
YouTube Help
Search YouTube for:
“Photoshop selection tools tutorial”
Look for a beginner-friendly tutorial demonstrating the Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, and Quick Selection Tool.
Homework
Combine 3 Objects
For homework, create a new Photoshop composition using 3 different cut-out objects.
Your three objects should come from different images and be combined into one creative scene.
For example, you could combine:
a beach + a dinosaur + a skateboard + sunglasses
Your final image should look intentional, even if the scene is silly!
Homework Requirements
Your project must have:
✓ 3 cut-out objects
✓ 1 background
✓ Objects on separate layers
✓ Clean selections around each object
✓ Objects resized and positioned intentionally
✓ A creative finished scene
Save your Photoshop PSD file so your layers remain editable.
Then export your finished design as a JPEG and submit it through Google Classroom.
Remember
Selections are one of the most important skills you will learn in Photoshop. You will use them for photo editing, graphic design, advertising, posters, social media graphics, and much more.
This week, do not worry about making every selection perfect on your first try.
Choose. Cut. Move. Create. Have fun!
Basic Workspace Terms
Canvas
The area where your design lives (your workspace or “page”).
Document
The file you are working on in Photoshop.
Workspace
The layout of panels, tools, and menus on your screen.
Tools Panel Terms
Move Tool
Used to move objects or layers around.
Brush Tool
Used to paint or draw on your canvas.
Eraser Tool
Removes parts of an image or layer.
Shape Tool
Creates shapes like rectangles, circles, and lines.
Gradient Tool
Blends colors smoothly from one to another.
Text Tool
Adds words or text to your design.
Selection Tools
Used to select parts of an image (Marquee, Lasso, Quick Selection).
Layers Terms (VERY IMPORTANT)
Layer
Like a transparent sheet stacked on top of others. Each part of your design sits on its own layer.
Background Layer
The bottom layer of your project.
Layer Order
Which layer is on top or bottom (affects what you see).
Opacity
Controls how transparent a layer is.
Blending Modes
Changes how one layer interacts with the layer below it (can create cool effects).
Layer Mask
Hides or reveals parts of a layer without deleting anything.
Editing & Design Terms
Resolution
The quality of an image (higher = clearer).
Pixels
Tiny squares that make up your image.
Transform (Ctrl + T)
Resize, rotate, or stretch objects.
Crop Tool
Cuts part of your image.
Adjustment Layers
Used to change color, brightness, contrast without damaging the image.
Color Terms
Foreground Color
The main color you are using.
Background Color
The secondary color.
RGB
Color mode used for screens (Red, Green, Blue).
File Terms
PSD File
Photoshop file that keeps all layers editable.
JPEG (JPG)
Compressed image for sharing.
PNG
Image with transparent background support.