Photoshop's 5 Most Powerful Selection Tools

Beyond the basic Marquee and Lasso tools, Photoshop has five advanced selection tools that handle everything from AI-powered subject cutouts to fine hair detail and soft-edged clouds. Aaron breaks down Select Subject, Color Range, Select and Mask, the Pen tool, and Channels, showing exactly when to reach for each one, from cutting out a person in one click to isolating hard-edged products and soft skies. CHAPTERS 00:00 5 Most Powerful Selection Tools 00:53 Select Subject: AI-Powered Cutouts 01:52 Select Color Range: Selecting by Color 04:03 Select and Mask for Fine Detail Like Hair 09:07 The Pen Tool for Hard Edges 13:38 Channels for Soft Edges Like Clouds and Sky THE STEPS 1. Go to Select, then Select Subject, for an AI-powered one-click cutout, then clean up edges with the Lasso tool and a black-filled layer mask 2. Go to Select, then Color Range, and use the eyedropper plus the Fuzziness slider to select a specific color, perfect for isolating something to recolor with a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer 3. Go to Select, then Select and Mask, and use the Refine Edge tool, painting from inside a selection outward, to capture fine detail like hair and earrings 4. Use the Pen tool, set to Path with Rubber Band enabled, clicking for straight lines and click-dragging for curves, to trace hard-edged objects precisely 5. Right-click your finished pen path and choose Make Selection to turn it into a selection, then a layer mask 6. Go to Window, then Channels, duplicate whichever color channel has the most contrast, boost it with Levels (Cmd/Ctrl+L), then Cmd/Ctrl-click the channel thumbnail to load it as a selection for soft-edged subjects like clouds Get the full step by step breakdown here: https://phlearn.com/tutorial/top-5-se... PHLEARN PRO: Want more advanced selection and compositing techniques like this? Check out PHLEARN PRO at phlearn.com/pro ― What is PHLEARN PRO? Full courses on Photoshop, Lightroom, and photography, taught step by step New tutorials added every month A library of hundreds of hours of training for photographers and retouchers at every level ― Use code PRO26 for a discount on your first month of PHLEARN PRO ― Follow PHLEARN: Instagram:   / phlearn   Facebook:   / phlearn   Twitter:   / phlearn   #Photoshop #PhotoEditing #SelectionTools