One of Photoshop's main functions is the ability to cut out or isolate sections of a digital image. There are many ways to SELECT certain parts of an image and various TOOLS you can use to do it.

The image to the left represents a Digital Collage that was made in Photoshop using parts of various images.

Below illustrates the Tools you can use to cut out parts of images, and the various options that you have when doing so.

In the TOOL BAR you can find the Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee Tools. These tools are used when you want to select basic circular and rectangular parts of an image. Below are examples of both.

Use the Rectanglar Marquee Tool to make basic rectangular selections.

You can use the Lasso Tool to make free form selections of an image.

When you want to cut out part of an image, but it doesn't have to be exact, the Lasso Tool is the perfect way to do it.

If you find an image online that is on a solid color background, the MAGIC WAND tool is designed to easily select the image from the background.

1. Click the Magic Wand tool into the color background.

2. Use the Select - Inverse menu to select the object.

3. Once you Inversed the selection of the magic wand, and the object is selected instead of the background color, you can copy and paste the object onto a different background.

If you need to cut out an object precisely, the Pen Tool is the tool to use.

The Pen Tool is much like the Illustrator Pen Tool in that you click points, and drag the mouse to make curves.

Once the object is outlined by the Pen Tool, right-click your mouse and choose the Make Selection option that appears.

If you want exact edges choose 0 for the Feather Radius

If you want feathered edges choose a number for the Feather Radius. The higher the number the greater the feather.