Does Your Photoshop Do This (Annoying Polygonal Lasso Tool)?

I'm just wondering if your polygonal lasso tool does this:

Randomly, in the middle of making a selection it will suddenly close the selection path, which nine times out of ten will run its closing line right across a complicated selection edge, ruining the whole selection.

Mine keeps doing this and it's getting to the stage where there will be some colossal damage inflicted upon the computer and anything else that gets in the way.

Does anyone happen to know how to salvage a ruined selection? Obviously if it closes the path in a straight line that doesn't run through part of the existing selection edge I can just carry on by adding to the selection. What I don't know how to salvage is when it cuts the selection into lots of different parts with a straight line running right up through itself.

Earlier on it was doing it to a really complicated selection that I was making and it kept ruining it, sometimes ten or fifteen minutes into the task. After five occurrences the whole lot nearly went through the window.

Mike

This is a common problem with the Polygonal Lasso but it seems to me you're using the wrong tool for the job. There are much better tools than the Polygonal Lasso for making complex selections. You can use Color Range, Quick Select, or even channel masking. I rarely use the Ploygonal lasso, only when selecting straight edged objects.

Okay, thanks. At least it's not just mine then.

I like to use the polygonal lasso tool for specific tasks where I want a definite and specific edge. The edge I need isn't always exactly where the various selection methods would say it is. Select Colour Range would be no good for this task, although I do use it for some things.

Mike

Pen Tool!

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #8820481
I'm just wondering if your polygonal lasso tool does this:

Randomly, in the middle of making a selection it will suddenly close the selection path, which nine times out of ten will run its closing line right across a complicated selection edge, ruining the whole selection.

Mine keeps doing this and it's getting to the stage where there will be some colossal damage inflicted upon the computer and anything else that gets in the way.

Does anyone happen to know how to salvage a ruined selection? Obviously if it closes the path in a straight line that doesn't run through part of the existing selection edge I can just carry on by adding to the selection. What I don't know how to salvage is when it cuts the selection into lots of different parts with a straight line running right up through itself.

Earlier on it was doing it to a really complicated selection that I was making and it kept ruining it, sometimes ten or fifteen minutes into the task. After five occurrences the whole lot nearly went through the window.

Mike

its happened to me before but i don't know why.

HankScorpio wrote in post #8821600
Pen Tool!

An absolute nightmare trying to control that with my mouse! It's all over the place!

Same thing has happened to me with the pen tool. If I took too long (apparently) between points occasionally it would just close the selection. If I quickly make points and finish all is well though.

You need to check your mouse click rate. Most of the time the selection closes is because the user double-clicks the mouse instead of single-clicking. Its usually inadvertent but double-clicking will close a selection.

TIM_SCO wrote in post #8821624
its happened to me before but i don't know why.

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #8821654
An absolute nightmare trying to control that with my mouse! It's all over the place!

I don't get that It's the most precise tool. You can even use it just like the polygonal lasso, just click then click then click. However it's much better if you click then click and drag to create a curve then click. It's the simplest thing in the world once you know how it works.

Hank, I thought you meant the pen tool as in freehand use. With my mouse if I try to draw a line it just goes all over the place. I know which tool you mean now. I don't use that one, but I'm not sure if it would be any good for what I'm trying to do.

I use the polygonal lasso tool for edges such as rocks, cliff edges, ruined buildings and things that lend themselves to that kind of selection.

Mike

PixelMagic wrote in post #8821766
You need to check your mouse click rate. Most of the time the selection closes is because the user double-clicks the mouse instead of single-clicking. Its usually inadvertent but double-clicking will close a selection.

I did originally wonder if I was inadvertently doing that, but it also does it when I'm not clicking points in quick succession.

Mike

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #8821815
I use the polygonal lasso tool for edges such as rocks, cliff edges, ruined buildings and things that lend themselves to that kind of selection.

The Pen can work in the same way but it creates a path instead of a direct selection so you can save it, take a break then add to it later. You also get the benefit of being able to create a precise curve if you need to. Trust me, give it a try and you'll never look back.

pen tool is what you are after. it will solve yor problem of losing your complex selections. i strongly suggest spending a good ammount of time learning how to use it and practicing with it. it'll save you so much time and trouble in the future. it's what the big boys use.

It looks as if I'm going to have to learn the damned pen tool then!

Mike

Tutorial: Using the Pen Tool