The Marque Tool Rocks

The ability for a Photoshop user to isolate a section of the image layer so that one can perform a number of operations - from painting to the application of filters - is arguably the most powerful feature of the program. As such, mastering the use of selection tools and the graphical interfaces where one can edit the resulting mask is essential to learning to paint within Photoshop.

Even at its most basic, these selection tools allow you to create surprisingly complex renderings using simple marques. A rectangular or eliptical selection can be added together or subtracted from each other though a mathmatical operation called boolean. By using a combination of Ctrl Alt and Shift keys, Selection Tool commands can be extended to include additive and subtractive commands.

Command + Shift = Add To

Command + Alt = Subbtract From

Command + Shift + Alt = Overlap

Multiple selection techniques can be combined in the same manner to expand the original selection into a complex and nuanced window through which Photoshop can then focus its powerful editing tools.

Selections can be archived and reloaded later within a project using the click of a single shortcut.