Hi : Could someone please help me as I am at my wits end. I am working in Photoshop elements 2. Here's the scenario..... Using the "selection tool" (rectangle or circle), I select a portion of the photo or object that I want to cut out. The marching ants now are dancing. At this point, I now want to make the selection a different size without redoing it (bigger or smaller). How is this done? When I drag the side handles, it distorts the selection and it is now a cutout. In DIP9, I normally just click adjust marquee and I am able to click on the handles and change the size of the selection. I have a photo that I want to cut out into an oval but sometimes when drawing the selection, it's just not what you wanted and needs adjusting.

I would greatly appreciate any help as I am now getting frustrated and want to move on with my LIFE!!! LOL

P.S. I posted this question on the How To Forum also. I really should have posed it here!

Newbie
Warm Regards
Susan

i don't think you can . sure would be nice though. i've gotten stuck there before too. you can either just draw your approximate size oval, then use your mouse to drag your selection to the correct position (as long as you're inside the selection and the marquee tool is still selected) or try this. and this is what i usually do to get it perfect. drag your guides around where you want your oval. make the lines where you'd want the top, bottom, and sides to touch. then start in the corner with your oval marquee (where it turns orange when you're right on the lines) then drag your oval to the opposite corner. then your lines should all be where you want them and the oval just right. did that make sense? here. try this example if not... (attached)
of course i hope it can be done and someone can teach us both!

Attached Images

ovalex.jpg (64.6 KB, 13 views)

in PS there is a choice under Selection > Transform Selection. This changes the box so that you can make the selection smaller or larger, longer, etc.

I don't know anything about PS Elements, but maybe it has the same selection. Look and see!

__________________

coolness! this was shared on the other thread too. soooo good to know. it'll make it a lot easier. i shoulda known! Ü

I was surprised you didn't know that. But figured maybe you just forgot. You know us moms, our brains leave us sometimes...hehe.

Na, really, you ARE one of the resident guru's on PS around here, what gives.

LMBO (laughing my butt off)

__________________

oh there's so much about ps i don't know!! i can make it do things, but usually the hard way. hey, i'm here to learn too! and if you think i'm a guru then whew! i leave that to people like suzanne (gibbous) who seem to "get" photoshop! i just coexist with it. and love it and want to marry it, but i don't always "get" it. hmmm, sounds like someone i know....

You guys are the greatest!!!! I had posted this question on the How to section (by error) and received a workaround - add grids/rulers to the area you want to place a rectangle or circle marquee. This still does not enable you to change the selection with handles, which is what I was looking for, but it is a great suggestions!!

As a newbie, I will be ordering the book by Robert Lynch - Hidden Powers of Elements 2. I am wondering if anyone has the book and if so, would this have been an action he added to PSE?

You all have opened up the doors to a wonderful and exciting pastime although I think it has become an obsession!!!! I'm so glad you are all around to help and console where necessary!! LOL.

Warm regards
Susan