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The Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements – Instructions

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How to Use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements: Video

            The following video lesson, titled “Learn How to Use the Lasso Tool in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023: A Training Tutorial,” shows how to use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements. This video lesson is from our complete Photoshop Elements tutorial, titled “Mastering Photoshop Elements Made Easy v.2023.”

Overview of How to Use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements:

            The Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements lets you draw free-form selections to make curved selections. It shares the same button in the Toolbox with the Polygonal Lasso Tool and the Magnetic Lasso Tool. Because each tool behaves differently, you will have to look at how to use each tool on an individual basis.

            To use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements, click the “Lasso Tools” button in the Toolbox. In the Tool Options Bar, be sure the “Lasso Tool” is selected. Also, choose the type of selection to make in the Tool Options Bar. You can select “New Selection,” “Add to Selection,” “Subtract from Selection,” or “Intersect with Selection” in the Tool Options Bar.

            To create a selection, click and drag with the mouse to draw a freehand selection. Trace the outline of the area to select, making sure you drag it back to the origin or starting point. If you release the mouse before dragging it back to the starting point, Elements draws a straight line from where you stopped dragging back to the origin point for you.

            To draw a straight line as you are drawing, hold down the “Alt” key on your keyboard. Then click from where you want the line to begin to where you want it stop. Doing this then creates a straight line between the points at which you click.

A picture of a user making a selection with the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements.

A picture of a user making a selection with the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements.

Instructions on How to Use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements:

  1. To use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop Elements, select the Lasso Tool from the Toolbox and Tool Options Bar.
  2. In the Tool Options Bar, then choose the selection setting to create: “New Selection,” “Add to Selection,” “Subtract from Selection,” or “Intersect with Selection.”
  3. To soften the edges of the selection, enter the width of the feathered border in pixels into the “Feather:” text box or use the slider.
  4. You can ensure that the selection has smoother edges for the curves by checking the “Anti-aliasing” checkbox.
  5. Then click and drag from a starting point around the pixels to select, back to the starting point.
  6. To draw a straight line as you are drawing, hold down the “Alt” key on your keyboard.
  7. Then click from where you want the straight line to begin to where you want it stop.
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