Combining Selections

It’s often easier to build a selection by drawing smaller selections and adding them onto each other. For example, if you want to select the shape of a cross, you don’t need to draw the entire shape by hand; instead, use the rectangular marquee tool with the Add Selection button selected in the options bar (Figure 9.7) to draw two rectangles that merge together wherever they overlap. The other buttons on the options bar provide other ways to combine two shapes.

Figure 9.7. From left to right: The Add button selected in the options bar for the rectangular marquee tool, dragging the first rectangular selection, and dragging the second selection that combines with the first because the Add button is selected.