Using the magic wand

Hi Guys
Sorry if this is a basic question, but I have an image of a guitar which I want to cut out using the magic wand tool, but when I click on it, it seems to be trying to cut out all the details in between the strings on the fretboard, I just want the entire outline.  Should I be increasing the sensitivity or the opposite, whatever I do it doesn't seem to work.  the back ground is one, neutral colour so I thought it would be easy to do?
Thanks
Phil

You've already got better answer for what to use instead of the Magic Wand. I personally prefer the quick selection tool,  however, are you aware that when using the magic wand you can hold down the shift key to add to your selection with your mouse, or hold down the Alt key to decrease the selection area that you want to cover.
If the colors are similar within the areas you want to select you can also go to Select / Similar, or Select / Color Range.   If using Color Range you can hold down the shift or alt keys and drag your mouse to increase or decrease the selection coverage.
You can also use the pen tool to set anchor points around the areas you want to select creating a work path. Right click in your selections and choose "Make Selection"
Additionally, the Refine Edge command/tool is invaluable no matter which method you use to make your selections.
Selecting portions of an Image
Refining Edges In CS4

Similar Messages

  • I am new to Photoshop CC. I am trying to use the magic wand to highlight a dull sky, and it is just making a weird selection that has nothing to do with my photo

    I am trying to use the Magic Wand to highlight a dull sky so that I can add something more interesting.
    When I try to isolate this area, the magic wand seems to just make a random selection throughout my photo.
    I have anit-alias on, and my tolerance is at 5.

    First, is the layer containing the photo of the sky selected? That might help.
    But there are probably better ways to make selections than the magic wand, depending on the value ranges in the sky you wish to select.
    Try Color Range, Quick Mask, or manual selections using the Polygon Lasso Tool, or combinations of all of the above.
    You can also paint your selection on an additional layer (using brushes), and convert the painted area to a selection, make a channel of that selection, and refine manually.

  • I used the magic wand in previous versions--where is it in PS CC??

    I used the magic wand in previous versions--where is it in PS CC??

    It's exactly where it has always been. If you're seeing the quick selection tool instead, click on it and hold until you get the flyout menu and click on the magic wand.

  • Selecting pixels on a layer using the magic wand

    PS CS5
    I have been trying to select individual pixels around a shape on a layer to create a mask to hide the semi transparent pixels but i cant seem to select individual pixels to add to the selection.
    In some places along the path of the object I have been able to select some individual pixels, but in other parts, groups of pixels automatically get selected or even the whole path is selected.
    How do i control this? I want to be able to only select the pixels i choose and not groups.
    The settings i am using are:
    Tolerance = 0
    Contiguous - Selected
    Sample all layers - Selected
    I have tried doing this with each of the following settings to no avail:
    New Selection
    Add to selection
    Subtract selection
    Intersect with Selection
    I was following a tutorial on the lullabots website to create a mask but can't reproduce the steps because of this problem
    http://www.lullabot.com/articles/creating-awesome-new-icon
    thanks in advance

    One setting that you haven't listed and which can affect the Magic Wand tool is the Sample Size.
    Activate the Eyedropper Tool, then right-click somewhere on your image.  Make the sample size Point Sample.  This will then tell the Magic Wand or any other tool that does an "eyedropper sample" operation to use the value of the single pixel you click on to gauge its operation.
    I mention this because the coupling is modal and sometimes overlooked.
    -Noel

  • How do I select similarly colored text using the magic wand?

    I converted a large document from RGB to CYMK (File | Document Color Mode). I'd like to select all of the text that was RGB(0,0,0) and is now CMYK(75.02,67.97,67.02,90.16) so I can change it to CMYK(0,0,0,100). I think the magic wand is the way to do this (correct me if I'm wrong).
    I have text in a dozen or more text areas. Many of the text areas overflow text into another text area. Some of the text in the text areas is "black" but there is also text with other colors that I'd like to remain unchanged.
    For example, I'd like to select all of the black text in the following two text areas without selecting the red text. I thought  that I could click on the black text and have all the black text (but not the red text), selected, but the entire text box is selected (and nothing in the second text box is selected). Can the wand select some text within several text boxes? If not, how should I go about changing the black? Thanks.

    Thanks Mylenium.
    If I use the Same Fill command, it does select both text areas. But if I then choose a replacement color (e.g., CMYK(0,0,0,100)) all of the text in both text areas is changed to black (i.e., the red text in my above illustration also changes to black).

  • Whereas in the past when I used the Magic Wand I got rid of it by using another tool or clicking on "escape", today the "escape" is not working. What should I do?I am working with Element 10

    Can somebody please advise me why Escape is not working anymore and how to get rid of the magic wand?

    At the far left of the options bar is a tiny triangle. Click it and choose Reset Tool and see if that helps.

  • How can I chop out the background of a graphic using the magic wand tool?

    This was really easy using fireworks, can anyone please tell me how I can do this so I can get a transparent background.
    Many thanks

    Is it a raster image?
    In that case: no, you can't.

  • Is the magic wand tool the best tool for cutting out a person's head?

    Need advice! The picture is of a girl with her hair blowing in the wind, so I'm not sure about using the magic wand tool.

    I guess we should ask what version of Photoshop the OP is using.
    One could arge that the OP should have provided that information by themselves and, if not, kind of deserves potentially being confused by having functionality presented that may not be part of their set-up …
    Edit: But in all fairness I suspect I may have omitted such information myself when I first started asking questions on this Forum.
    Not to mention that it seems somewhat remarkable howt many people seem to prefer talking about specific images to simply posting them (or lores or section of them) – which would make assessing the tasks in question often a lot easier.

  • Can I restrict the operation of the "magic wand" to a single artboard?

    CS4 on a Mac. Can I restrict the operation of the "magic wand" to a single artboard without moving that artboard to a different layer? At present it selects all the similar items on the active board as well as all the other boards on the same layer.

    Hi MarieMeyer,
    I'm not sure if this works on CS4, but one thing you can try is to click Window + Magic Wand to open your tool settings.
    There, you should see a check mark next to Fill Color. Uncheck fill color. Now, make sure everything is deselected, and then try using the magic wand tool. You may need to play with your Tolerance setting to get it to select the way you want.
    Hope this helps!

  • Where does one find the Very Useful tool, Magic Wand,  in the latest version of Photoshop, anyone?  Its been well hidden.  Why change for change's sake?

    Where does one find the Very Useful tool, Magic Wand,  in the latest version of Photoshop, anyone?  Its been well hidden.  Why change for change's sake?

    csuebele wrote:
    I guess I'm too slow, Trevor.
    That's no bad thing Chuck.  It indicates that you have better things to do than constantly refresh the forum LOL.
    I'm having a wee posting spree today after lacking the inclination to respond to the same old threads for the last few days.    But I do love it when people get all in a tizzy complaining about stuff that is right under their nose (so to speak).   So I guess my criteria for responding is often based as much on how big a smile it puts on my face, as to how much I am helping the OP.   Unfortunately that irreverent approach gets me into trouble at times, and one of the moderators deleted one of my illustrated replies just a few days ago.  It took me a few minutes to work out why it had been deleted.  The subtext was 'risking one eye', and I eventually realized that the implied 'risk' could definitely be seen as offensive to some people. 

  • How do I make a brush signature when the tool bar is missing the magic wand tool?

    I am missing the magic wand tool from the tool bar on the left of cc.  How do I retrieve it or is it completely missing from the photoshop cc download?  I need it to make a brush signature for signing photos.

    Hi,
    Most likely the magic wand tool is not missing.
    The Magic Wand Tool is grouped with the Quick Selection Tool in the tool box
    more info on where the tools are and how to access them
    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/tools.html
    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/using-tools.html

  • I don't received codes and  the magic wand of PS does not work

    I don't received no codes, now I can't no use LR
    the magic wand of PS does not work

    We can't know. You have not provided any useful technical info about your system or other details. If you bought the photographer's bundle for Creative Cloud then there are no serial numbers. Refer to this:
    Sign in, activation, or connection errors | CS5.5 and later
    Mylenium

  • Has anyone figured a way to use the Magic Trackpad with Windows 7 on a partitioned disc using Bootcamp?

    Has anyone figured a way to use the magic trackpad with Windows 7 on a partitioned disc using Bootcamp?

    Yes. After Windows/Bootcamp discovers  your bluetooth device (Magic Trackpad or Mouse, be sure to make it discoverable), right click, with your wired mouse, of course, on the icon and select Properties.
    Then check the mouse drivers box and your device should work. (I located this solution on another thread)
    It works for both the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad.
    Must admit, the solution was not intuitive within the Windows environment. But we all must remember. It IS Windows, after all.
    Another thing. Keep in mind that the gestures on these devices that work just dandy in OSX do not carry over into Windows.
    It's Windows.

  • My 13 inch macbook pro freezes,when i use the magic mouse.pleae any help to resolve this

    My 13 inch macbook pro freezes,when i use the magic mouse.pleae any help to resolve this.My OS is OS X 10.6.8.

    Usual first things to try are a smc and pram reset.

  • Can I disable the internal trackpad if I am using the magic trackpad

    I am using the magic trackpad with my 11" MacBook Air and want to disable the notebook trackpad. Is this possible. No obvious setting in the system trackpad  preferences.

    Yes, It's in System Preferences > Universal Access > Mouse & Trackpad tab > check "ignore internal trackpad when external mouse or trackpad present.
    Regards,
    Captfred

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