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The Lasso tool is used for selections where there is no pre-defined shape. Unlike the Marquee Tool where you can select areas using circles and rectangles, the Lasso tool gives you more freedom in the shapes you select. To select the Lasso Tool click L. By default this will select the standard Lasso tool. To cycle through the Tools press Shift + L.
The standard Lasso Tool allows you to select areas by freehand. Simply click and drag to select the outline of your area. To complete the selection drag the mouse back to the start point. At this point you will see the familiar black and white line of a selection. If you let go of your path half way through it will complete the path for you with a straight line back to the first click.
Tip: To Create straight lines hold down the ALT key as you draw the path. What this does is to toggle between the standard tool and the Polygonal Tool.
The Polygonal Lasso Tool allows you to create selections using straight edges. Each click you make will create a point until you return to your original starting point.
The same selection tools that we saw in the Marquee Tool are available allowing you to add, subtract and intersect to your selection.
If like me you haven’t got the steadiest hand you will love the Magnetic Lasso Tool. For images with a high contrast background this makes cutting out selections simple.
Click to start your selection and move your mouse. You will notice that the line will wrap to where it thinks the edge of the selection should be. Generally Photoshop does an amazing job but there are times when it will be wrong. To correct this by eye hit the delete button. This will remove the last way-point (the little square) and will allow you to try again. You can also click to define a way-point if you wish. To complete your selection return to the starting point. You will see the icon turns to show a little circle when you are over the start point.
Tip If you are not happy with your selection and want to start again hit escape. This will remove the path you have selected.
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