Selection tool in Procreate: Basics and tips

The selection tool in Procreate is essential for selecting and editing specific areas of your drawings. This allows you to have more precise control when drawing, painting, and editing your artworks. There are various selection methods that help you get the most out of this tool. Let’s go over the basics and discover how you can use the selection tool effectively.

Key Insights

• The selection tool offers various selection methods: automatic, freehand, rectangle, and ellipse.
• You can adjust the tolerance of the selection for more precise results.
• Feathered edges can help create a harmonious transition between selected and unselected areas.
• The tool offers the option to save selections and restore them later.

Getting to Know the Selection Tool

First, you’ll see the selection tool in the top menu bar, represented by an S-shaped icon. Clicking on it opens a menu with various selection methods. You can choose between automatic selection, freehand, rectangle, and ellipse. Before you start with any of the modes, take a look at the options to make the best selection for your project.

Automatic Selection

The automatic selection is very useful for selecting pixels that have a similar hue to the clicked pixel. For example, if you tap on a specific shade of blue in your image, the selection will begin based on the surrounding pixels.

It is important to note that the tolerance, which determines the similarity of the pixels to be selected, can be adjusted. A value of 0% means that only exactly identical pixels will be selected, while a higher value includes more adjacent pixels. To adjust the tolerance, move the slider and watch how the selection grows.

If you want to select a larger area, such as the sky in your image, you can increase the threshold to capture many similar pixels at once.

Freehand Selection

The freehand mode allows you to manually outline the area you want to select. This can be particularly helpful when you want to isolate specific shapes or complicated details. Simply draw around the desired area with your finger or stylus, and everything within that line will be added to the selection.

If you later decide to remove part of the selection, you can easily do so without having to deselect everything. Just tap on "Remove Selection" and outline the area you want to eliminate.

Rectangular and Elliptical Selection

With the rectangular selection tool, you can perform precise rectangular or square selections. When drawing the rectangle, simply touch the edge of the screen to ensure it has an exact shape.

In ellipse mode, drawing a circle or ellipse becomes a breeze. If you want a perfect circle, hold your finger on the screen while drawing.

Editing Your Selection

The selection tool not only opens new possibilities but also helps you edit details with precision. After making a selection, options like "Duplicate Content" become available, allowing you to copy the selected part to a new layer. This is especially useful for making experimental changes while keeping the original image intact.

Smaller adjustments to the selection can be made using the "feathered edges" feature, which smooths out the edges of the selection, creating more harmonious transitions. This not only edits the chosen part but also softens the transition to the background.

Undoing the selection allows you to return to the beginning at any time without having to start over. If you want to revert to your selection without having to create it again, simply press and hold the selection tool longer. Your last selection will then be restored.

Summary – Understanding the Selection Tool in Procreate in Detail

The selection tool in Procreate is flexible and powerful, perfectly suited for digital art. With a variety of selection methods and the ability to adjust tolerances and use feathered edges, you can work precisely and unleash your creativity. Mastering these techniques will elevate your digital drawing to a new level.