The magnetic lasso is one of the most useful tools in Photoshop, and it’s also one of the easiest to use. Simply put, the magnetic lasso allows you to “paint” a selection around an object in an image.
The tool is extremely useful for isolating objects from their background.
To use the magnetic lasso, simply select the tool from the toolbox (it’s nested under the regular lasso tool). Then, click and hold down the mouse button near the edge of the object you want to select.
As you move the mouse around the object, you’ll see a “marching ants” selection border appear. Keep moving the mouse until you’ve gone all the way around the object. When you get back to your starting point, release the mouse button and your object will be selected!
If at any point you make a mistake while drawing your selection border, simply press the “backspace” key on your keyboard to undo your last step. You can also add to your selection by holding down the “shift” key while drawing with the magnetic lasso. And if you need to subtract from your selection, hold down the “alt” key while drawing.
Once you’ve made your selection, you can do anything with it that you could do with any other selection in Photoshop. For example, you can copy and paste it into another image, or apply a filter to it. You can also use the magnetic lasso to make a quick mask – just click on the “quick mask” button (the little icon that looks like a circle inside a square) in the options bar at the top of the screen, and then draw your selection as usual.
Conclusion: The magnetic lasso is an incredibly useful tool that every Photoshop user should know how to use. With just a few clicks, you can easily select objects in your images and isolate them from their backgrounds. So next time you’re working in Photoshop, be sure to give the magnetic lasso a try!
