This document provides step-by-step instructions for using selection tools in Photoshop Elements to create a simple castle image. The lesson introduces the rectangular and elliptical marquee tools, lasso tools, and options for adding to and subtracting from selections. Following the instructions, learners will use the selection tools to draw boxes and shapes to build the castle, trees, and other elements, then fill the selections with color. Mastering basic selection tools is an important first step for using Elements in integrated projects.

1. Learning Photoshop Elements
Step-by-Step
Lesson One
Selection Tools
• Overview
Before students get started using Elements in integrated projects, they must
first master the Elements toolbar.
This lesson will concentrate on learning some of the most basic tools on the
Elements toolbar, the “selection” tools.
Creating a simple object like a castle is a good way to start.
• Instructions
1. Open Photoshop Element and set up a canvas as below:
2. We will be using these selection tools in this lesson:
When you hold the
top button down
on the left side,
you can access
both the
Both these Rectangular
tools are Marquee Tool and
“selection” the Elliptical
tools. Marquee Tools.

2. When you hold
down the button
here you have
three section tool
choices: the Lasso
Tool, and
Polygonal Lasso
Tool and the
Magnetic Lasso
Tool.
3. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw a box:
Note the menu
on your options
bar has now
changed to
reflect the
options you have
when you use the
You will notice
Rectangular
that the selection is
Marquee tool.
bordered by
We will be
moving dashes,
working with the
sometime known
“add to” and
as “marching
subtract from”
ants”. These “ants”
buttons on this
designate which
bar.
pixels on the
canvas that you
have selected.

3. 4. On the “Options” bar, select “add to selection” and draw another
rectangle.
5. Now connect the two rectangles at the bottom.
Notice how all
the selections
you have made
have “blended”
together to
make one big
selection.

4. 6. Add towers to your castle using the same Rectangular Marquee tool
and the “add to selection” option.
Any time you
make a
mistake, or
want to try
something over
again for a new
result, simple
click on
edit>undo, or
step backward
as far as you
wish to go.
7. Make poles and flags on top of your castle. Poles are made with the
same Rectangular Marquee tool but triangular flags need the
Polygonal Lasso Tool located on the next button down.
When using the
Polygonal Lasso
Tool, click the
mouse each time you
want to draw in
another direction. It
is best to start and
end your selection
near the same place
on the canvas. If you
find the “sticks” to
Remember to check your mouse like a
and make sure the spider web, simply
“add to selection” double click your
option is still active mouse, and it will
before you make flags release!

5. 8. Now we will add some windows by “punching some holes” in the
selection. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool once again but this
time use the “subtract from selection” when you make windows.
If you picture
“disappears”, or
your windows
don’t show up just
select edit>undo
and check your
selection buttons,
chances are the
“add to selection”
or “subtract from
selections tools are
wrong.

6. 9. Using the same tools and options select a door.

7. 10. Now let’s add a tree. For this step you will need to use the Lasso
Tool.
Making a tree trunk
can be challenging,
make sure you have
the “add to
selection” option
active and just add
branches to your
truck.

8. 11. Add “leaves” to your tree using the same tools.
12. Your selections are finished. Now it is time to color the selected
areas. Select edit>fill.
From the “Fill”
box window,
select an option
from the drop
down menu.

9. 13. In this example, we will fill the selection with the foreground color,
which is black.
Foreground
Background
14. To stop the “marching ants” select, Select>Deselect.

10. 15. Your castle is finished, practice making other pictures using the
selection tools. Here is another example to get you started: