2.6.  Select By Color Tool

Figure 12.11.  Select by Color tool icon in the Toolbox

Select by Color tool icon in the Toolbox

The Select by Color tool is designed to select areas of an image based on color similarity. It works a lot like the Fuzzy Select tool (“Magic Wand”). The main difference between them is that the Magic Wand selects contiguous regions, with all parts connected to the starting point by paths containing no large gaps; while the Select by Color tool selects all pixels that are sufficiently similar in color to the pixel you click on, regardless of where they are located. Also, clicking and dragging in the image has no effect on the Select by Color tool.

2.6.1.  How to Activate

The Select By Color Tool can be activated from an image menu as ToolsSelection ToolsSelect by Color; from the Toolbox by clicking on the tool icon ; or from the keyboard using the shortcut Shift +Ctrl+C

2.6.2.  Key modifiers (Defaults)

The select by color tool does not have any special key modifiers, only the ones that affect all selection tools in the same way. See Selection Tools for help with these.

2.6.3.  Options

Figure 12.12.  Tool Options for the Select by Color tool

Tool Options for the Select by Color tool

You can find the Magic Wand options by double-clicking on the icon in the Toolbox.

Modus; Antialias; Rounded corners
[Note] Note

See Selection Tools for help with options that are common to all these tools. Only options that are specific to the Rectangle Select tool are explained here.

Similar colors

All these options work exactly the same way, they were described for the rectangular selection already. See for Section 2.5.3, “ Options details.

[Note] Note

Regarding moving selection, this tool doesn't work like others: when selection by color is created, you can move it only if you select another selection tool...