.. meta::
   :description:
        Krita's elliptical selector tool reference.

.. metadata-placeholder

   :authors: - Wolthera van Hövell tot Westerflier <griffinvalley@gmail.com>
             - Scott Petrovic
       	     - Alberto Eleuterio Flores Guerrero <barbanegra+bugs@posteo.mx>
       	     - Santhosh Anguluri
   :license: GNU free documentation license 1.3 or later.

.. index:: Tools, Ellipse, Circle, Elliptical Select, Selection
.. _ellipse_selection_tool:

=========================
Elliptical Selection Tool
=========================

|toolselectellipse|

This tool, represented by an ellipse with a dashed border, allows you to make :ref:`selections_basics` of a elliptical area. Simply |mouseleft| and drag around the section you wish to select.

.. important::

    Most of the behavior of the Elliptical Selection Tool is common to all other selection tools, please make sure to read :ref:`selections_basics` to learn more about this tool.

Hotkeys and Stickykeys
----------------------

* :kbd:`J` selects this tool.
* |mouseleft| :kbd:`+ Shift` constrains the selection to a perfect circle. (Make sure to press |mouseleft| before :kbd:`Shift` key)
* |mouseleft| :kbd:`+ Ctrl` makes the selection resize from the center. (Make sure to press |mouseleft| before :kbd:`Ctrl` key)
* |mouseleft| :kbd:`+ Alt` allows you to move the selection. (Make sure to press |mouseleft| before :kbd:`Alt` key)
* :kbd:`Shift +` |mouseleft| sets the subsequent selection to 'add'. You can release the :kbd:`Shift` key while dragging, but it will still be set to 'add'. Same for the others.
* :kbd:`Alt +` |mouseleft| sets the subsequent selection to 'subtract'.
* :kbd:`Ctrl +` |mouseleft| sets the subsequent selection to 'replace'.
* :kbd:`Shift + Alt +` |mouseleft| sets the subsequent selection to 'intersect'.

.. versionadded:: 4.2

   * Hovering your cursor over the dashed line of the selection, or marching ants as it is commonly called, turns the cursor into the move tool icon, which you |mouseleft| and drag to move the selection.
   * |mouseright| will open up a selection quick menu with amongst others the ability to edit the selection.

.. image:: /images/tools/selections-right-click-menu.png
   :width: 200
   :alt: Menu of elliptical selection
   
.. versionadded:: 5.0
   
   * |mouseleft| :kbd:`+ Ctrl + Alt` allows you to rotate the ellipse around the marked corner of the bounding rectangle. (Make sure to press |mouseleft| before :kbd:`Ctrl` and :kbd:`Alt` keys)
   * |mouseleft| :kbd:`+ Ctrl + Alt + Shift` allows you to rotate a constrained perfect circle around the marked corner of the bounding rectangle. (Make sure to press |mouseleft| before :kbd:`Ctrl + Alt + Shift` shortcut)


.. hint::

    To subtract a perfect circle, you can do the following: Press :kbd:`Alt +` |mouseleft| shortcut, then release the :kbd:`Alt` key while dragging and press :kbd:`Shift` key to constrain.

.. tip::

    You can switch the behavior of the :kbd:`Alt` key to use the :kbd:`Ctrl` key instead by toggling the switch in the :ref:`general_settings`.


Tool Options
------------

.. image:: /images/tools/selections-elliptical-selection-options.png
   :width: 300
   :alt: Elliptical selection options

Mode
    This option is explained in the :ref:`pixel_vector_selection` section.
Action
    This option is explained in the :ref:`pixel_vector_selection` section.
Anti-aliasing
    This toggles whether or not to give selections feathered edges. Some people prefer hard-jagged edges for their selections.

.. note::

   Anti-aliasing is only available on Pixel Selection Mode.

Width
    Shows you the current width while you are creating the selection. You can manually type the value and use the 'Lock Width' for your next selection to have the selected value.
Lock Width
    Forces the next selection to have the current width.
Height
    Shows you the current height while you are creating the selection. You can manually type the value and use the 'Lock Height' for your next selection to have the selected value.
Lock Height
    Forces the next selection to have the current height.
Ratio
    Shows the ratio between height and width of the selection. Similar to Height, and Width, you can manually type the value and use the 'Lock Ratio' for your next selection to have the selected value.
Lock Ratio
    Forces the next selection to have the current ratio.

.. hint::

    If you want your selection to be of specific size:

    1. Type the width and height.
    2. Press the Lock Width and Lock Height buttons.
    3. |mouseleft| where you want your selection to be.