Lasso. Magic Wand. Elliptical Marquee. These are some of the tool selections that a graphic designer should have in his Adobe tool belt.
“Selections” are the tool options offered in design programs to help designers keep their work at its best. They do perform tasks such as isolate editing to specific areas in an image, or cut out portions of an image. Selections are an important part of everyday life for a designer.
A designer is only as good as his or her selections. In Design 101, my professor started the class with these words, and I will never forget them.
Truly, a designer can quickly reveal a lack of experience by producing a jagged edge or fragmented image to a client. Once you learn a tool that works well for you, perfect it. Then, find a different way to get the job done, and perfect that, too. This is how, over time, a designer builds a tool belt with both breadth and depth.
The truth is that there are many ways to accomplish the same end in Photoshop, but not all of them are equally effective and proper. These selection methods can make or break your credibility as a designer.
How can you spot if your designer is taking the time to make appropriate and clean selections?
- Look closely at the edges of the cropped photo: are they jagged or does the image have a smooth natural edge?
- Does the image have all of its parts? Or have small pieces and parts of the image been deleted away?
- If the image is of a person, does the hairline look natural or choppy?
- Have the small details been overlooked or taken care of? Look closely in the gaps and corners to make sure unwanted details have been fully removed, and that additions are thorough and look natural.
