2.4. Free Selection (Lasso)

Afbeelding 14.17. Free Selection icon in the Toolbox

Free Selection icon in the Toolbox

The Free Selection tool, or Lasso, lets you create a selection by drawing it with the pointer.

You can use this tool in two ways. First create the starting point by clicking on your image. Then:

In both cases, double clicking on the end point closes the selection with a straight line.

In polygonal mode, this selection is a preliminary selection; ants are marching, but the small yellow circle is still present: you can copy the selection and, pressing the Backspace key, you return to the previous selection step (re-open the shape), and you can edit the selection.

Press Enter or double click inside the shape to validate the selection.

Pressing and releasing the mouse pointer allows you to mix free hand segments and polygonal segments. You can go outside the edge of the image display and come back in if you want to.

The Lasso is often a good tool to use for roughing in a selection; it is not so good for precise definition. Experienced users find that it is often convenient to begin with the lasso tool, but then switch to QuickMask mode for detail work.

For information on selections and how they are used in GIMP see Selections. For information on features common to all selection tools see Selection Tools.

[Opmerking] Opmerking

The Free Selection tool is much easier to use with a tablet than with a mouse.

Afbeelding 14.18. Mixing free hand segments and polygonal segments

Mixing free hand segments and polygonal segments

2.4.1. Activating the tool

You can access the Lasso Tool in different ways:

  • From the image menu bar ToolsSelection ToolsFree Select,

  • by clicking on the tool icon in the ToolBox,

  • by using the keyboard shortcut F.

2.4.2. Sneltoetsen

The Free Select tool has key modifiers that affect all selection tools in the same way. See Selection Tools for help with these.

Backspace returns to previous selection step (removes last selection segment), Escape cancels all selection segments.

2.4.3. Tool handling

To move the selection, see Moving selections.

Afbeelding 14.19. Rough selection with the Free Selection tool.

Rough selection with the Free Selection tool.

2.4.4. Opties

Afbeelding 14.20. Tool Options for the Lasso tool

Tool Options for the Lasso tool

Gereedschap opties van je actieve gereedschap worden normaliter getoond in een venster onder de gereedschapskist. Als dat venster er niet is kun je hem oproepen via het menu VenstersDokbare VenstersGereedschap Opties dat de opties van het actieve gereedschap laat zien.

The Free Select tool has no special tool options, only the ones that affect all selection tools in the same way. See Selection Tools for help with these.

Since GIMP-2.10.12, selection modes work differently. Marching ants come with a continuous line, meaning that the selection is not validated yet and that you can still change the selection shape (mouse pointer comes with the Move icon). But you can't use (holding it pressed) Shift, Ctrl...) yet. You have to hit the Enter key. Then you can use (holding them pressed) Shift to add a selection, Ctrl to subtract a selection, Shift + Ctrl to intersect two selections. When you are satisfied with your changes, hit Enter key to validate the selection.