Sometimes, targeting a specific color channel can help create a much better selection, especially if there are distinct color differences you can take advantage of. In this example, the same diagonal move with the Quick Selection tool resulted in a much better selection of the heart when it was applied only to the Red channel in the Channels panel (Window>Channels).
The preview in the Color Range dialog shows the entire image by default, which can make it hard to judge the potential selection mask if you’re trying to select only small areas. The solution is to first create a selection around the area on which you want to work before you choose Select>Color Range. Once you do, the preview in the dialog will only show what you have pre-selected.
When using either the Polygonal Lasso or the Magnetic Lasso tools (both nested under the Lasso tool [L]), you can remove control points in the order in which they were put down by backtracking along the selection path and pressing the Delete (PC: Backspace) key for each point. The Magnetic Lasso tool may try to add new points as you back up; just delete them until you get back to where you need to be.
They are still there only their name has changed. Palettes no longer exist in Photoshop CS4. Officially, they are now called panels.
The sample size of the Eyedropper tool (I), found in the Options Bar, controls the size of the area that’s evaluated when it provides color and tonal feedback, but it can also affect how certain selection tools work,e.g., the Magic Wand or the Color Range command. The default Sample Size value is Point Sample, which samples a single pixel; however, this isn’t ideal for photographs, where using 3 by 3 Average or 5 by 5 Average will give you better results.
