How to Deselect in Photoshop: A Complete Guide

(Last updated on August 29th, 2023)

Short Summary

• To deselect in Photoshop, you can use a keyboard shortcut, a right-click menu option, or a menu bar option.
• The keyboard shortcut for deselecting is Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (macOS).
• The right-click menu option for deselecting is available when a selection tool is active.
• The menu bar option for deselecting is located under Select > Deselect.
• To deselect a layer in Photoshop, you can click anywhere in the Layers panel.
• To deselect precisely in Photoshop, you can use various tools and features, such as the Eraser tool, the Subtract from Selection option, the Quick Selection tool, etc.

Have you ever wondered how to deselect in Photoshop? If you are new to photo editing, you might not know what selection and deselection are, or why they are important. In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about these concepts and how to use them in Photoshop.

What is Selection and Deselection in Photoshop?

Selection and deselection are two essential skills for any photo editor. They allow you to isolate a specific area or object in your image and apply edits only to that part. For example, you can select a person’s face and change its color, brightness, or contrast, without affecting the rest of the image.

Deselection, as the name suggests, is the opposite of selection. It means removing the selection from an area or object, so that it is no longer affected by any edits. For example, if you want to apply a filter to the whole image, you need to deselect any previous selections first. Knowing how to resize a layer in Photoshop can also be beneficial alongside these concepts.

Photoshop offers a variety of tools and methods for making selections and deselections. Some of the most common ones are:

• The Lasso tool, which lets you draw a freehand selection around an area or object.
• The Select Subject tool, which automatically selects the main subject in your image, such as a person or an animal.
• The Object Selection tool, which lets you draw a rectangle or a lasso around an object and automatically selects it.
• The Magic Wand tool, which selects an area based on its color or tone. This is useful, especially if you want to learn how to cut out an image in Photoshop.
• The Quick Selection tool, which lets you paint over an area or object and automatically selects it.

In this article, I will show you how to deselect in Photoshop using different ways. You can use any of these methods depending on your preference and situation.

How to Deselect with a Keyboard Shortcut

One of the easiest and fastest ways to deselect in Photoshop is using a keyboard shortcut. Being proficient with shortcuts can be very handy, just like knowing how to zoom in on Photoshop.

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a certain action. In this case, the keyboard shortcut for deselecting is Ctrl+D in Windows and Command+D in macOS.

To use the keyboard shortcut to deselect in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have an active selection in your image. You can use any of the selection tools or methods mentioned above to create one.
2. Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (macOS) on your keyboard. This will remove the selection from your image.
3. You can now apply any edits to your whole image or make a new selection.

Here are some tips and tricks for using the keyboard shortcut effectively:

• You can customize the keyboard shortcut for deselecting in Photoshop by going to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and changing it under Select > Deselect .
• You can reselect the last selection you made by pressing Ctrl+Shift+D (Windows) or Command+Shift+D (macOS) on your keyboard .
• You can invert your selection by pressing Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Command+Shift+I (macOS) on your keyboard. This will select everything except the current selection .

How to Deselect with a Right-Click Menu Option

Another way to deselect in Photoshop is using a right-click menu option. A right-click menu option is an option that appears when you right-click on your image or canvas. Understanding the different tools in Photoshop can also help with the selections and deselections process.

In this case, the right-click menu option for deselecting is available when a selection tool is active.

To use the right-click menu option to deselect in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have an active selection in your image and a selection tool selected, such as the Lasso tool or the Magic Wand tool.
2. Right-click anywhere on your image or canvas. This will open a menu with various options.
3. Click on Deselect from the menu. This will remove the selection from your image.
4. You can now apply any edits to your whole image or make a new selection.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using the right-click menu option compared to other methods:

• The advantage of using the right-click menu option is that it is convenient and accessible, especially if you are already using a selection tool.
• The disadvantage of using the right-click menu option is that it might not work if you have another tool selected, such as the Brush tool or the Eraser tool.

Related Links

• Resize a Layer in Photoshop
• Zoom in on Photoshop
• Cut out an Image in Photoshop

How to Deselect with a Menu Bar Option

A third way to deselect in Photoshop is using a menu bar option. If you find yourself often using menu options, you might also be interested in learning how to invert colors in Photoshop.

A menu bar option is an option that appears on the top of your screen under different menus. In this case, the menu bar option for deselecting is located under Select > Deselect.

To use the menu bar option to deselect in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have an active selection in your image.
2. Go to the menu bar on the top of your screen and click on Select. This will open a drop-down menu with various options.
3. Click on Deselect from the menu. This will remove the selection from your image.
4. You can now apply any edits to your whole image or make a new selection.

Here are some scenarios where using the menu bar option might be preferable or necessary:

• You might want to use the menu bar option if you are not familiar with the keyboard shortcut or the right-click menu option, or if you prefer using the mouse over the keyboard.
• You might need to use the menu bar option if the keyboard shortcut or the right-click menu option are not working or available, such as when your keyboard is broken or your mouse is malfunctioning.

How to Deselect a Layer in Photoshop

So far, I have shown you how to deselect an area or object in your image. But what if you want to deselect a layer in Photoshop? This is another essential technique, similar to understanding how to use perspective warp in Photoshop.

A layer is a separate piece of your image that you can edit independently from the rest. For example, you can have a layer for the background, a layer for the foreground, and a layer for the text.

To deselect a layer in Photoshop, you don’t need to use any of the methods above. All you need to do is click anywhere in the Layers panel. The Layers panel is a window that shows all the layers in your image and lets you manage them. You can find it on the right side of your screen by default, or by going to Window > Layers.

To deselect a layer in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have an active layer in your image. You can tell which layer is active by looking at the Layers panel and seeing which one has a blue highlight around it.
2. Click anywhere in the Layers panel, except on the name or the thumbnail of the active layer. This will deselect the active layer and make no layer active.
3. You can now apply any edits to your whole image or select another layer.

Here are some ways to use layer masks and quick masks to refine or create selections on layers:

• A layer mask is a feature that lets you hide or reveal parts of a layer without deleting them. You can use a layer mask to create complex selections on a layer by painting with black and white colors. Black hides and white reveals .
• A quick mask is a feature that lets you temporarily turn your selection into a red overlay that you can edit with any tool. You can use a quick mask to modify your selection by pressing Q on your keyboard, editing the red overlay, and pressing Q again .

How to Deselect Precisely in Photoshop

Sometimes, you might want to deselect precisely in Photoshop, especially when you are editing complex or detailed images. For example, you might want to deselect only a part of an area or object, or deselect along a curved or irregular edge.

To deselect precisely in Photoshop, you can use various tools and features that let you adjust or subtract from your selection. Some of these tools and features are:

• The Eraser tool, which lets you erase parts of your selection by painting over them.
• The Subtract from Selection option, which lets you remove parts of your selection by using another selection tool, such as the Lasso tool or the Magic Wand tool.
• The Quick Selection tool, which lets you add or subtract from your selection by painting over it and holding down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) on your keyboard.

To use these tools and features to deselect precisely in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have an active selection in your image that you want to refine.
2. Choose one of the tools or features mentioned above that suits your needs and preferences.
3. Use the tool or feature to deselect precisely by erasing, subtracting, or adjusting parts of your selection until you are satisfied with the result.
4. You can now apply any edits to your selected area or object.

Here are some best practices and guidelines for making accurate selections and deselections in Photoshop:

• Zoom in and out of your image by pressing Ctrl+ (Windows) or Command+ (macOS) and Ctrl- (Windows) or Command- (macOS) on your keyboard. This will help you see more details and make more precise edits .
• Use guides and grids to align and measure your selections and deselections by going to View > Show > Guides/Grids .
• Adjust the tolerance of your selection tool by changing the value in the options bar. The tolerance determines how similar the colors or tones of the selected area are to the ones you clicked on. A higher tolerance selects a broader range of colors or tones, while a lower tolerance selects a narrower range.
• Use the Feather option to soften the edges of your selection by adding a slight blur. This can help you blend your selection with the rest of the image and avoid jagged or pixelated edges.

Conclusion

In this article, I have shown you how to deselect in Photoshop using different methods and tools. You have learned how to:

• Deselect with a keyboard shortcut, which is Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (macOS).
• Deselect with a right-click menu option, which is available when a selection tool is active.
• Deselect with a menu bar option, which is located under Select > Deselect.
• Deselect a layer in Photoshop by clicking anywhere in the Layers panel.
• Deselect precisely in Photoshop by using various tools and features, such as the Eraser tool, the Subtract from Selection option, the Quick Selection tool, etc.

Thank you for your attention and interest. Please feel free to share your feedback or questions in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you. Happy editing! 😊

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