Create a mask by selecting a region

You can create a mask by selecting a rectangular, elliptical, polygonal or lasso region, or by selecting a consistently colored area of an image layer (magic wand). You can also add to or subtract from the selection.

When you select a region, the selected region is unmasked and all other regions are masked. You can then convert the selected region into a mask from the Canvas Layer Editor.

To select a rectangular, elliptical, polygonal, or lasso region

Select the image layer from which you want to select a region.
See Select an image layer.
Choose one of the following Paint > Select > Marquee tools:
- Paint > Select > Marquee (rectangle)
- Paint > Select > Marquee (ellipse)
- Paint > Select > Marquee (polyline)
- Paint > Select > Marquee (lasso)
The cursor becomes a knife.
In the Marquee Options section of the Paint Panel, set Mode to one of the following:
- New—to create a new selection area
- Add—to add to the selection area
- Subtract—to subtract from the selection area
Drag the stylus to create a rectangular, elliptical, polygonal, or lasso region.
For the Marquee (polyline) tool, you must click, drag, and release the mouse to create each segment. Double-click to close the selection.

TipYou can define your own hotkeys for the New, Add, and Subtract marquee operations. Choose Preferences > Interface > Hotkeys/Menu Editor and open the Special : Paint section.

To select a consistently colored area of an image layer

Select the image layer from which you want to select a colored area.
See Select an image layer.
Choose Paint > Select > Magic Wand .
The cursor becomes a wand.
Click the area or color of the image layer you want to select.
To select a different colored area, click it.
In the Magic Wand Options section of the Paint Panel adjust the Tolerance from 0 to 255. A low value selects pixels having a color very similar to the color you clicked. A high value selects pixels having a broader range of colors.

NoteAlternately, you can set the Magic Wand Options before clicking the area or color of the image layer you want to fill.

NoteIf you want to set the Tolerance before selecting another area, without affecting the area you’ve already selected (for example, to add to the selection), click Accept or choose Paint > Select > Magic Wand again.

To convert the selection area to a mask

Choose Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor to open the Canvas Layer Editor.
In the Editor’s menus, choose Convert > Marquee to Mask.
A new mask layer called Marquee-# is created in the Editor. The selected region is unmasked and all other regions are masked.

This mask can be applied to any image layer(s), just like any regular mask.