Article Summary
The Photoshop Lasso Tool is a freehand selection tool available in three versions: standard, polygonal, and magnetic. This article covers how each type works, when to use them, and key shortcuts. You'll gain the practical knowledge to make precise selections and retouch images with confidence.
Photoshop’s lasso tool comes in handy if you’re looking to make a freehand selection, but that’s not all this tool can do. In fact, there are three kinds of lasso tools: the standard tool, the polygonal tool, and the magnetic lasso tool. Here’s how to use each one, along with a few designer shortcuts and tips to help you along the way.
Quick Tip #1: The keyboard shortcut for the lasso tool is the letter L. To alternate between the three lasso tools, press Shift-L repeatedly.
The standard lasso tool
In the physical world, you would use a pencil to trace a border or draw the outline of an object onto a piece of blank paper. In Photoshop, you perform this function digitally with the lasso tool. Simply click your mouse or stylus where you want the selection to begin, hold the selection down, and drag your lasso tool where you want it to go. To complete the selection, return to the spot you began, and the selection will automatically close its loop. Careful though, if you don’t end near the area you began, Photoshop will close the loop with a straight line.
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Learn Photoshop’s standard, polygonal, and magnetic lasso tools to create selections and design more accurately. This guide provides structured insights, proven methodologies, and actionable execution steps for modern professionals.
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