Magic wand selection tool misbehaving

Help.. I've been having this problem almost everytime I use Photoshop CS5 and previously with CS4. (never a problem with CS or CS2). When trying to make selections based on color or contrast with the "magic wand" tool, I find it develops totally erratic behavior. Even setting a tolerance of 1 or 3 (feather = 0), for instance, might select large areas or completely different tonality.
I end up making my masks (selections) either manually or by using a combination of tools like the magnetic lasso. This is causing me to waste a lot of time. If anyone has a clue, please let me know.
My system is an otherwise robust 64bit WIn-7, Xeon CPU, 18GB Ram.
Thanks in advance,
Doug A

C.P.
Thanks for your response. This is just a single layer (16bit). The tool option bar is adjacent to selection areas in question to the left. Am I missing something here? To add or select areas, I usually use the shift or alt key.
Thans,
Doug

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Terri, Many thanks. Gordo <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected].. > Gordon, > > Have a look here: > > <a href=http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/bllps504b.htm> > > Some additional handy selection tips geared towards CS2 but apply to > Elements: > > <a href=http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/photoshop-hacks/selection-masks-hacks.html > > > Edit: I think the Control, Shift D shortcut to reselect the last selection > is particularly useful. I doubled checked to make sure the shortcut works > in Elements... > > Note: You need an add-on that adds Transform selection to do the selection > transform nudge tip in the last link. Grant's free set has a tool to > Transform selections...Hidden Elements probably has one too. > > Edit: I don't think it's covered in either one of these links but your eye > dropper tool's sample size setting affects how your magic wand selects. > From what I've read, you will usually get the best results using the magic > wand when your eye dropper tool is set to the 3x3 sample size setting. > > HTH, > > Terri

Magic wand selection tool misbehaving

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