3.2.4. Fuzzy Selection Tool

The Fuzzy Selection tool is designed to select areas of the current layer or image based on color similarity.

Activate Tool
  • The Fuzzy Selection Tool can be called in the following order, from the image-menu: Tools/ Selection Tools/Fuzzy Select.

  • The Tool can also be called by clicking the tool icon:

Key modifiers (Defaults)
Shortcut

The z key will change the active tool to Fuzzy Select.

Ctrl

Holding Ctrl while creating a free selection will place the selection into subtraction mode (see above).

Alt

Holding Alt will allow movement of the current selection (only its frame, not its content). If the whole image is moved instead of the selection only, try Shift+Alt

Shift

Holding Shift while creating a free selection will ensure that the selection mode is changed to addition (see above).

Ctrl+Shift

Using Ctrl-Shift will change the selection mode to intersection (or union).

Options

Overview

The available tool options for Fuzzy Select can be accessed by double clicking the Fuzzy Select tool icon.

Mode

Replace mode will cause any existing selection to be destroyed or replaced when the new selection is created.

Add mode will cause the new selection to be added to any existing selection regions.

Subtract mode will remove the new selection area from any existing selection regions.

Intersection mode will make a new selection from the area where the existing selection region and the new selection region overlap.

Antialiasing

This option will make your selection appear more correct by antialiasing the edge of the selection with the neighbouring pixels. Antialiasing is discussed in further detail under the glossary entry Antialiasing.

Feather Edges

The Radius slider adjusts the amount of feathering in pixels for the next selection that is created. For further information regarding feathering, see the glossary entry Feathering.

Finding Similar Colors

Select Transparent Areas gives the Fuzzy Select Tool the ability to select areas which are transparent. If this checkbox is not selected, transparent areas are completely immune to being selected.

Sample Merged will change the way the Fuzzy Select Tool determines where to start and end selections. When Sample Merged is enabled, limits are set using color and pixel information from all layers. For further information regarding Sample Merge, see the glossary entry Sample Merge.

Threshold is a slider that determines how aggressively the Fuzzy Select finds areas to include in the selection region. If you hold the mouse button while making the selection on the canvas, you can adjust the Threshold slider by moving the mouse up or down.

Additional information
[Note] Note
Selections can exist on the visible canvas only. Selection movements and changes are, however, kept in the undo buffer should you need to repair an error.