User Guide Cancel

Saving selections

Search
  1. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
  3. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Tools
    4. Panels and bins
    5. Open files
    6. Rulers, grids, and guides
    7. Enhanced Quick Mode
    8. File information
    9. Presets and libraries
    10. Multitouch support
    11. Scratch disks, plug‑ins, and application updates
    12. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    13. Viewing images
    14. Using Windows 7 features
  4. Fixing and enhancing photos
    1. Resize images
    2. Cropping
    3. Process camera raw image files
    4. Add blur, replace colors, and clone image areas
    5. Adjust shadows and light
    6. Retouch and correct photos
    7. Sharpen photos
    8. Transforming
    9. Auto Smart Tone
    10. Recomposing
    11. Using actions to process photos
    12. Photomerge Compose
    13. Create a panorama
  5. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Create shapes
    4. Editing shapes
    5. Painting overview
    6. Painting tools
    7. Set up brushes
    8. Patterns
    9. Fills and strokes
    10. Gradients
    11. Work with Asian type
  6. Guided edits, effects, and filters
    1. Guided mode
    2. Filters
    3. Guided mode Photomerge edits
    4. Guided mode Basic edits
    5. Adjustment filters
    6. Effects
    7. Guided mode Fun edits
    8. Guided mode Special edits
    9. Artistic filters
    10. Guided mode Color edits
    11. Guided mode Black & White edits
    12. Blur filters
    13. Brush Stroke filters
    14. Distort filters
    15. Other filters
    16. Noise filters
    17. Render filters
    18. Sketch filters
    19. Stylize filters
    20. Texture filters
  7. Working with colors
    1. Understanding color
    2. Set up color management
    3. Color and tonal correction basics
    4. Choose colors
    5. Adjust color, saturation, and hue
    6. Fix color casts
    7. Using image modes and color tables
    8. Color and camera raw
  8. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
    2. Saving selections
    3. Modifying selections
    4. Move and copy selections
    5. Edit and refine selections
    6. Smooth selection edges with anti-aliasing and feathering
  9. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
  10. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
  11. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
    1. Save images
    2. Printing photos
    3. Share photos online
    4. Optimizing images
    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
    6. Dithering in web images
    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
    8. Previewing web images
    9. Use transparency and mattes
    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  12. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
    2. Keys for selecting and moving objects
    3. Keys for the Layers panel
    4. Keys for showing or hiding panels (expert mode)
    5. Keys for painting and brushes
    6. Keys for using text
    7. Keys for the Liquify filter
    8. Keys for transforming selections
    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

Save, load, or delete a selection

Saving a selection allows you to edit a selected area of a photo at a later time. You can work on other parts of the photo before loading the saved selection.

Saving selection (top), loading selection (center), and using the selection to fill with a solid color (bottom)

  1. In the Edit workspace, make a selection in your photo.
  2. Choose Select > Save Selection.
  3. In the Save Selection dialog box, choose New from the Selection pop‑up menu.
  4. Enter a name for the selection in the Name box, and then click OK.
  5. To load the selection, choose Select > Load Selection, choose the saved selection from the Selection menu, and then click OK.
  6. To delete a selection, choose Select > Delete Selection, choose a saved selection from the Selection menu, and then click OK.

Modify a saved selection

You can modify saved selections by replacing, adding to, or subtracting from them.

  1. In the Edit workspace, make a selection in your photo.
  2. Choose Select > Save Selection.
  3. In the Save Selection dialog box, choose the selection you want to modify from the Selection menu.
  4. Select one of the following and click OK:

    Replace Selection

    Replaces the saved selection with the current selection.

    Add To Selection

    Adds the current selection to the saved selection.

    Subtract From Selection

    Subtracts the current selection from the saved selection.

    Intersect With Selection

    Replaces the saved selection with the intersection between the current selection and the saved selection.

    Note:

    You can also modify a saved selection by loading it and using selection tools to add to it (Shift-drag) or subtract from it (Alt-drag in Windows, Option-drag in Mac). (See Add to or subtract from a selection.)

Modify a new selection with a saved selection

  1. In the Edit workspace, open a photo that contains a saved selection.
  2. Make a new selection in your photo.
  3. Choose Select > Load Selection.
  4. Choose a saved selection from the Selection menu.
  5. Select one of the following operations:

    Add To Selection

    Adds the saved selection to the current selection.

    Subtract From Selection

    Subtracts the saved selection from the current selection.

    Intersect With Selection

    Replaces the current selection with the intersection between the current selection and the saved selection.

  6. To invert the selected area, select Invert and click OK.
Adobe logo

Sign in to your account

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy