Using the magic wand tool

The magic wand tool lets you select a consistently colored area (for example, a red flower) without having to trace its outline. You specify the color range, or tolerance, for the magic wand tool's selection.

Note: You cannot use the magic wand tool on an image in Bitmap mode.

To use the magic wand tool:

1. Select the magic wand tool .
2. In the options bar, specify whether to add a new selection , add to an existing selection , subtract from a selection , or select an area intersected by other selections . The magic wand cursor changes depending on which option is selected.
3. For Tolerance, enter a value in pixels, ranging from 0 to 255. Enter a low value to select colors very similar to the pixel you click, or enter a higher value to select a broader range of colors.
4. To define a smooth edge, select Anti-aliased. (See Softening the edges of a selection.)
5. To select only adjacent areas using the same colors, select Contiguous. Otherwise, all pixels using the same colors will be selected.
6. To select colors using data from all the visible layers, select Use All Layers. Otherwise, the magic wand tool selects colors from the active layer only.
7. In the image, click the color you want to select. If Contiguous is selected, all adjacent pixels within the tolerance range are selected. Otherwise, all pixels in the tolerance range are selected.