Elliptical Selection Tool

toolselectellipse

This tool, represented by an ellipse with a dashed border, allows you to make Selections of a elliptical area. Simply click and drag around the section you wish to select.

Hotkeys and Stickykeys

  • J selects this tool.

  • R sets the selection to ‘replace’ in the tool options, this is the default mode.

  • A sets the selection to ‘add’ in the tool options.

  • S sets the selection to ‘subtract’ in the tool options.

  • Shift after starting the selection, constraints it to a perfect circle.

  • Ctrl after starting the selection, makes the selection resize from center.

  • Alt after starting the selection, allows you to move it.

  • Shift + mouseleft sets the subsequent selection to ‘add’. You can release the Shift key while dragging, but it will still be set to ‘add’. Same for the others.

  • Alt + mouseleft sets the subsequent selection to ‘subtract’.

  • Ctrl + mouseleft sets the subsequent selection to ‘replace’.

  • Shift + Alt + mouseleft sets the subsequent selection to ‘intersect’.

Note

So to subtract a perfect circle, you do Alt + mouseleft, then release the Alt key while dragging and press Shift to constrain.

Note

You can switch the behaviour of the Alt key to use Ctrl instead by toggling the switch in the General Settings

Tool Options

Anti-aliasing

This toggles whether or not to give selections feathered edges. Some people prefer hard-jagged edges for their selections.

Width

Gives the current width. Use the lock to force the next selection made to this width.

Height

Gives the current height. Use the lock to force the next selection made to this height.

Ratio

Gives the current ratio. Use the lock to force the next selection made to this ratio.