Converting between paths and selection borders

Converting between paths and selection borders

(Photoshop)

Because of their smooth outlines you can convert paths into precise selection borders. You also can convert selection borders into paths using the direct selection tool for fine-tuning.

Converting paths to selection borders

You can define any closed path as a selection border A closed path that overlaps a selected area can be added to subtracted from or combined with the current selection. To convert a path to a selection border using the current Make Selection settings:

Select the path in the Paths palette.

To convert the path do one of the following:

Click the Load Path as a Selection button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

Ctrl-click ( Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the path thumbnail in the Paths palette.

To convert a path to a selection border and specify settings:

Select the path in the Paths palette.

Do one of the following:

Alt-click ( Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Load Path as a Selection button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

Alt-drag ( Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the path to the Load Path as a Selection button.

Choose Make Selection from the Paths palette menu.

In the Make Selection dialog box select a Rendering option:

Feather Radius to define how far inside and outside the selection border the feather edge extends Enter a value in pixels.

Anti-aliased to create a finer transition between the pixels in the selection and the surrounding pixels Make sure the Feather Radius is set to 0.

For more information on these options see "Softening the edges of a selection on section 166

Select an Operation option:

New Selection to select only the area defined by the path.

Add to Selection to add the area defined by the path to the original selection.

Subtract from Selection to remove the area defined by the path from the original selection.

Intersect with Selection to select the area common to both the path and the original selection If the path and selection do not overlap nothing is selected.

Click OK.

Converting selection borders to paths

Any selection made with a selection tool can be defined as a path.

The Make Work Path command eliminates any feathering applied to the selection It can also alter the shape of the selection depending on the complexity of the path and the tolerance value you choose in the Make Work Path dialog box.

To convert a selection to a path using the current Make Work Path settings:

Make the selection and click the Make Work Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

To convert a selection to a path and specify settings:

Make the selection and do one of the following:

Alt-click ( Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Make Work Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

Choose Make Work Path from the Paths palette menu.

Enter a Tolerance value or use the default value in the Make Work Path dialog box.

Tolerance values can range from 0.5 to 10 pixels and determine how sensitive the Make Work Path command is to slight changes in the selection shape. The higher the tolerance value the fewer the anchor points used to draw the path and the smoother the path If the path is used as a clipping path and you have problems printing the image use a higher tolerance value (See "Printing image clipping paths on section 467

Click OK. The path appears at the bottom of the Paths palette.