Working with the selection tools in Krita

[@M3L0619]

For those looking for Add/Subtract/Multiply Selection features and are unfamiliar with modifier keys in image manipulation/digital art software, skip to 4:22. If you are looking to only select a solid color in a picture, for example, the default white background present in nearly all .jpg and some .png files, skip to 5:17. Hopefully this helped with the newbies like me, or casual image manipulators only looking to freely make simple changes to images. Good luck!

[@komorzo]

life saver right there

[@anjolafin6799]

Very good clear instruction. Thank you. I notice that Krita has been changing a lot for the better.

[@ManonRhale]

I can't seem to release the selection? ctrl -d isn't working and the selection won't go away, what should I do?

[@Gdquest]

Ctrl shift A or just click with any selection tool.

[@alphonsoelm5652]

I came here just for this answer lol

[@settmother6515]

lel same

[@Angela-zc7ed]

same

[@dianavasquez6546]

Japanon j

[@LisandroAguilera]

This video helped me a lot with a problem that i was having with the Contiguous selection tool. Thank you very much :)

[@sairayousaf2321]

Krita has good features considering it's free but it has many issues such as lagging and many brush issues. Idk why they dont solve it.

[@zoolg6939]

You just answered your own question. It's free. If you want Krita issues solved, make a bounty and support the devs financially

[@blakedora7458]

@@zoolg6939 sadly yes. But some people don't have money or are minors whose parents can't afford it

[@mcdjmjpizzas]

@@blakedora7458 sadly yes. But that still doesn't change the issues and limitations that come as a result of it being free software, regardless of being poor or a minor etc. And if people truly don't have any money to give, Krita is open source so one can always join in and add new features or update old ones themselves.

[@blakedora7458]

@@mcdjmjpizzas yeah. Overall Krita is a very good free program and a fine starter one. But it does have its lacks

[@lelehehev3403]

I'm very impressed by the whole serie of videos that GDQuest made for Krita tutorials! very clear explanations from how to use a specific tool to even small details! Thanks for the good work!

[@TheCubecrafer]

Still the best Krita tutorial

[@trevorfanning2649]

thats all good and all how do u git rid of it after useing it

[@ravahkingss449]

Hi. You said copying with the outline selection tool. How do you do that please?

[@kbizzaresadventures5574]

Hello, thanks for the tutorial but i didn’t quite understand how did you subtract a selection ? Whats is the short key?

[@inferno6012]

6:30 looking for this option in clip studio paint quick masks is close

[@warpcloud]

What is the shortcut for exiting slection mode?

[@clarencedg7053]

how to deselect the selection tool? Im having a hard time removing the selection tool

[@bortzborger1391]

Okay this really helps me thank you so much 💖

[@Uta_Chandra.H]

The keyboard shortcuts you put on the bottom corner of the screen are very confusing. Can you link me to where you explain what they mean?

[@OneWingedRose]

I swear there was a selection tool I was using where you click a point, then click the next point and it draws a selection line from point to point, and you repeat this process until you have a full outline. But I can't find it now! And it's not in this video! Help!

[@Dagg3r559]

how do you get rid of it when your done

[@alaipoblete6757]

After selecting something is it possible to make selected part go big or go small? And it tilt maybe? Thank you for your anwers

[@jtwheeler5985]

Transform tool

[@Nova-ng2yj]

Does anyone know how to get tool options? I can't find it in dockers

[@sundayafternoons]

You might not answer but how do you delete selection?

[@metaniz]

I learned something new. Still cool!

[@xlerical393]

How do i fix my problem: When i select a place it draws around the selection Not In the selection

[@7kurisu]

was looking for a freeform selection tool in krita...excellent tutorial

[@Gdquest]

Thank you!

[@vloopyart]

(NEED HELP) I selected the contiguous tool to color around my character I drew on the same layer. Then i selected the layer below to just paint, BUT it only paints on my character and yes i deselected the contiguous tool before I did that.

[@martinezclowd3979]

Hey uhm can u tell me how to remove selection tool?? because once i used it i dont know how to remove selection tool and its annoying

[@liamy2853]

This helps so much!!! Thanks

[@DonaldDrennan]

How do I save my selections as channels, for future use? I can't find this information anywhere.

[@ria4498]

Need to Find Lasso?? Go On 1:50 Thank Me Nothing :)

[@Atezian]

How can you see the dimensions of pixels selected with the rectangle select?

[@liisa668]

How to rotate selection....?

[@Miyani-h4f]

Sir u didn't tell about how do we save the image after cuting the image from the outline tool?

[@arstotzkanplaguedoctor]

I have a problem where when I try to select something the selection is inverted, it just selects everything but the thing I'm trying to select, and i don't know how to switch it back

[@MakeWayOfficial]

I'm having the same problem

[@arstotzkanplaguedoctor]

@@MakeWayOfficial Oh I actually figured it out so, what it was is that I had it set to "subtract", so instead of selecting it was deselecting it but keeping everything else, you can just press "a" to set it back, the "tool options" at the side of the screen should tell you about it

[@MakeWayOfficial]

@@arstotzkanplaguedoctor Oh okay, thank you!!! 🔥

[@arstotzkanplaguedoctor]

@@MakeWayOfficial Of course! :3

[@boitahaki]

How do you move the selection? Not the image below it but the selection itself

[@countolaf8951]

how do you delete everything except for the selected area?

[@Gdquest]

You can go to the Select menu -> Invert or press Ctrl Shift I (should be the shortcut to invert the selection) and then Delete to delete the selected area.

[@lucasrandel8589]

what key(s) do you press down to drag a selection?

[@Synapticsnap]

Concerning Shortcuts: Is there a list of available Keys that are open for use without accidentally overwriting a used shortcut? I'm always concerned that if I make a key a shortcut I will disable another useful shortcut I missed in the list of shortcuts, there are a lot of them. If not, oh well, just hoping :P

[@Gdquest]

When you customize a shortcut, it gets saved in a special custom slot - so the default one is always available. On top of that, you'll get a warning if you're overwriting an existing shortcut, and it'll tell you where it's being used. Last but not least, at least in Krita 3, you can search for shortcuts in the search bar.

[@Synapticsnap]

GDquest Excellent Thanks

[@sobeksrecviem7275]

How do i do these on tablet?

[@TheMagicFur]

Everytime I select something once I can’t select another thing. I have to close the program and open it again

[@Peepeepoopoo-wf2he]

did you learn how to do it yet?

[@TheMagicFur]

Amanda Michelle it’s been a year so I can’t remember anymore

[@hatlessplains]

Whenever I use the wand selection tool to fill my drawing with color when I make it go away it always leaves a weird blank outline near the line work, does anyone know how to make it a clean fill?

[@UnholyEmpire]

I have the same question

[@optimus2200]

so I used krita a short while a go since a long hiatus and man the controls are hard ... I forgot that part the tools are hidden behind alot of crooks and crannies and every thing is like hiding from me . and the short cuts are soooo different from photoshop (used it for more than 10 years) it throw me off . and when I tried to change them at least the move (select layer) and color picker I couldent . color picker is cntrl ... really whose Idea was that !! it was really painful to try and adjust but almost all paint applications use a layout like photoshop so it was seamless working from a program to another . so is there a plugin or something I can do to change the shortcuts at least ? the krita short cuts option didnt want to change the Ctrl and Alt ... its like unusble

[@arturdomingues5265]

+Ahmed Yassin Since Krita 3.0 you can change Shortcuts Presets. You can go on [Settings] > [Configure Krita] > [Keyboard Shotcuts] , on the bottom of the "Settings Window" you can select presets. By default it comes with 3 presets. krita_default, photoshop_compatible and paint_tool_sai_compatible.I dont know how close to Photoshop the shortcuts became when you select photoshop_compatible preset, as I'm used to Krita's default.The "Canvas Input" settings, also have built-in presets to resemble Photoshop and Paint Tool Sai

[@Gdquest]

If you're using the latest Beta, you now have to create a new profile before you can save your shortcuts, and the keyboard shortcut editor. Then, Krita has a very good reason not to use Photoshop's shortcuts: it is not an image retouching/web design/graphic design application. Most of Krita's shortcuts make sense if you take the application for what it is: a digital painting program. I have modified a lot of default shortcuts in Photoshop, because they are just not as efficient as they could be for game art specifically. To me, coming up with your own scheme is very important regardless of the application you're using. The defaults are always built to accommodate for a wide range of users, but not for your needs specifically. Now, there will be a video relatively soon in the Krita training talking about the new way to edit shortcuts. I'll try to cover everything you have to know about what changed in version 3.0.

[@Gdquest]

By the way, every shortcut that relates to canvas input (picking layer with R, something colors with control/control+alt...) Is in the "canvas input settings" tab, in Krita's preferences: i.imgur.com/rHbypAJ.png The Photoshop compatible profile moves color sampling back to the alt key.

[@optimus2200]

GDquest thank you for the help. but few notes . 1) the picture you have send does not load . 2) I found the canvas input sitting there is only kirita default . 3) I am using Krita V 2.9.11 so I dont know if it has it . 4) I know the difference but I am used to photoshop (10 years) I used to draw there for also 4 years so thats alot to get used to . I tried to work .. more like I want to work with krita because its free and Its very good for drawing and I can manage editing in it its very versatile . but what I mean is the work flow in a project that might have taken me 10 minutes if photoshop would take 3 times as that because I stumble on the control thats all . I am not saying photoshop is better its just hard wired in me you know :D

[@Gdquest]

Ahmed Yassin Ah yes, you need the 3.0 beta for that. Krita 3 is gonna be out soon, and it's way better than 2.9. I know the feeling, I've also been a PS user for the longest time! But actually I customized my shortcuts in both Krita and PS, so they're pretty compatible. I.e. Q for contiguous selection, / for preserve alpha in Krita, etc.

[@TheVouders]

One question that I didn't got awnsered:how I make the selection tool visible because it's invisible and I can't work like that

[@aleksandramanekina9901]

Ctrl+H

[@mrmanhunter8470]

How do i save my selection tool After ive used It to draw what buttons do i Press to save my selection tool

[@Toebiscuit]

How do you change to a soft selection?

[@joanlam4703]

how do you add more tools?

[@mikekrier1465]

If I have a layer with transparent background, and multiple images floating around, not overlapping. And I want to select one of the images on that layer, how can I? I can use the rectangle select but then if I do a transform, the center will be the center of the selection box, rather than the center of the image. In photoshop you can constrain a selection to only the object (image) itself, so that the selection is tight to the outline of the object. You can do it as quickly as using the rectangular selection and then clicking the move tool and just pressing the up and down arrows on your keyboard. The selection immediately constrains to the image. Using the wand to select the transparency and then invert isn't going to work if you have like 50 other objects on the layer. You'd end up selecting all of them when you only wanted one.

[@Gdquest]

Right click on the layer -> select opaque. You can assign a shortcut to it as well in the Settings menu -> Configure Krita -> shortcuts It's the same as in Photoshop: if you have all the objects on a single layer, you can't select one precisely with a single keystroke. You probably should keep them on separate layers so you can quickly select the object's layer with R click, and move it with the transform tool, without the need for a selection (similar to using the move tool in Photoshop with the Ctrl key to pick a layer).

[@Supernova12034]

I have 2 selections...one inside the other...how do i transform the inside selection???? Every time i use control T..it wants to transform the outside selection instead.. Thanks

[@nissi8588]

How do I change the opacity of a selected layer? I mean the one you used with the selection tool not the layers

[@poodahhtv8878]

How to you flip a Selected Area?

[@sarahurmom1772]

i dont see that top menu thing at the top of my krita screen

[@LuvCandiie]

How do I go back to the brush I was using before I used the selection tool?

[@Gdquest]

The shortcut to get back to the freehand brush tool is B, as in Brush.

[@LuvCandiie]

Many thanks!

[@coachdanielmorris7509]

what is the vector option in the tool option panel

[@cursey7304]

How to add more than 1 selection at a time, when I put another selection the previous 1 disappear

[@Gdquest]

Keep the Shift key down when drawing your second selection, it will add it to the existing one. You have two other modifiers with selections: - Alt will subtract from your selection. - Shift Alt will give the intersection of the selections.

[@cursey7304]

@@Gdquestthanks

[@cornuellsameword2407]

how can i select a layer?

[@Viftie]

Is there any possibility to select every shown pixel of a layer at once?

[@Gdquest]

Yes, right click on it and "Select Opaque". I assigned a shortcut to it using the Settings menu -> Configure Krita.

[@Viftie]

Okay, thanks... But is there any possibility to change a selection from "Replace" or "Add" to "Subtract", when I already selected something? Edit: Oh no, found it ^^"

[@ayeshaimran2886]

how do i select all of the layers in a specific area? i can only seem to select an area in the layer im working on, i want to select all the layers in a specific area at the same time.

[@sharpeye6366]

HOW TO MOVE SELECTION (only SELECTION - border ) in Krita???

[@Myacckt]

3:40 how did you select then detach of move the selection. you say you made a custom shortkey. How is that 'moving of a selection' selected in shortcuts editor? How can I add this shortcut? Thanks!!!

[@Gdquest]

It's there by default: It's the transform tool, and you use the T key to switch to it.

[@Myacckt]

omg? thanks!

[@laceymills3871]

the dotted line around the selection does not show how do i make it show?

[@babywarning]

how do you get rid of select once you finish doing what you need?

[@Gdquest]

Ctrl Shift A

[@babywarning]

Thank you!

[@gravityxio6592]

Question: If i want to use the selection tool to color in clothing etc, How do i keep on adding on to the selection instead of making a new one everytime? THANK YOU!.

[@Gdquest]

Keep the Shift key down. There's a dedicated tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6W6aqqchbKsjcU

[@dracodragon4294]

I know this video is super old but in the current version of krita, I can't see the preview for my selection, the line that I am drawing doesnt show up until the selection is finished. I want to know how to fix this because its really hard to select things when I can't see what I drew with the lasso tool.

[@umi9669]

Excuse me Sir, How did you change your color selector into only black and white color?

[@haloshh]

I select with selection tool than copy my picture to another layer. And make it smaller but then its quality got worse, more blury. I just don't understand when i minimize the size i though the quailty will be better. :(

[@Gdquest]

It depends on the size of your document (and a "scale filter" option). Paint layers in programs programs like Krita are made of pixels, tiny squares. There's a limited amount of them. When you scale your selection, The program modifies the pixels and it makes them fit a smaller or a larger area. In this process, you lose some information. The document is big enough, scaling down can make your art look sharper, but it also depends on the filter you choose. You can find the filter in the tool options category. For more information, check the documentation: docs.krita.org/en/reference_manual/tools/transform.html

[@haloshh]

GDquest Oh i see, thanks for the information you're the best! I will check the website.

[@TheCbrown146]

How do you stop using outline selection tool? I tried hitting escape and other buttons. Not sure if your video covered it.

[@karlomihelcic8411]

i've got the same problem, did you find out the solution?

[@TheCbrown146]

I use the rectangle selection and instead of making a box I click at a small point. The selection disappears.

[@karlomihelcic8411]

TheCbrown146 thanks for the reply, I've found out that when you press ctrl+shift+a it disables the selection

[@Gdquest]

Ah yes, it's Ctrl Shift A by default. I set it to Ctrl D so it's more similar to other programs. You can go to Settings->Configure Krita->Keyboard shortcuts and search Ctrl+Shift+A to find the corresponding entry.

[@littlemochu9822]

How to multiply selections tho? Like not just one selecting but like 2 or more?

[@Gdquest]

Keep the shift key down to add to the existing selection.

[@idontknow8734]

i cant delete the selection circle itself now

[@amandayvonneambida8684]

i cant see the blinking lights when i select even if i press global selection or display selection any ways to fix it?

[@aqxarium]

I can't move my sprites with the selection tool ;-;

[@OmNomNomNoom]

Stupid question: How do you like get out of the selection tool? I selected something and now I can't "unselect" it... :( great video btw thank you!

[@Gdquest]

Ctrl Shift A or Select menu->Deselect

[@OmNomNomNoom]

Thank you so much! That helps a lot! :)

[@pooruanimations]

@@Gdquest It helped me too thank you

[@sourjam4230]

How do i select a selected section as a different tab or canvas?

[@spotty3242]

i cant seem to erase or edit anything after using rectangular selection tool please help

[@Gdquest]

Make sure to deselect, you may have a tiny selection active: Ctrl Shift A by default

[@hairspray242]

oh my god thank you so much !!!

[@LucasSideris]

first of all thank you for take your time to make these tutorials. I really want to love krita and in a lot of ways I do, I mean, it's a amazing app and it's free! but from the perspective of someone who used any other painting software, the fact that you can't have diferent brushes between a eraser and a brush is just hinders the workflow. I cannot possibly understand why this isn't at least a option :(

[@Atezian]

agreed

[@Scereyaha]

How do I select from just the colour information on the current layer instead of using all layers though? Like if I have a line layer, and I want to select the clear space in that layer while ignoring all others, so I can expand the selection by one to fill the shape after switching to a colour layer, for instance, how would I tell it to only consider the current layer for the selection.

[@Gdquest]

sorry but I am not sure I got your question. If you want to lock the layer's alpha channel, there is a button in the toolbar right above the canvas called Preserve alpha mode (it's like a checker), you can use that to constraint the pixels you draw to what's already inside of the layer.

[@Scereyaha]

GDquest I mean select from only the current layer. Like in Photoshop. You can "use all layers" when you select something, or have the program ignore all but the current layer when selecting. Krita doesn't seem to allow this, it always forms the selection as though it's pretending it's all a flat image.

[@Scereyaha]

Thank you for getting back to me. I finally found the options window for the tool where the "limit to current layer" option is for the magic wand select. Thanks again. [You have to find the tool tab on the right hand side where the colour wheel is, with the tool selected and scroll down, for anyone else having this problem.]

[@sabitofn5983]

after i select i can only draw in that box pls tell me how do i delete it jez i cant find OUT PLS HELP ME FAST

[@mr.dizini5586]

is there an opportuninty to deselect (Ctrl+Shift+A) without that shortcut, but a button on screen? (I'm Using a Tablet and dont have a Keyboard with me)

[@addie952]

Same I really need help.

[@DTBIDTB]

Lets tell i drew something and i want to move it in a different place i would select the selection tool and make a square around my drawing just as you did but them when i want to actually move the drawing i cant?Do you know how to fix this issue?

[@Gdquest]

You don't have to - you can move the active selected layer (1 at a time) or the currently selected group with the move tool (T key by default). Be sure to press Ctrl Alt A to erase the selection before you do that, in case you have a small selection active on the canvas and forgot about it - this can be the reason why it doesn't work.

[@seline.2931]

Hello, I have a bit of a problem with my Krita. I started using it only yesterday, so I'm sorry if my problem seems too simple, but I couldn't find a solution anywhere on the internet so I thought of asking you or any of the viewers. So I did my line art and everything, and now that I want to color it, I move on to a new layer, but when I try to draw on that new layer, my paint goes all the way to the background, behind the white base (one the checkerboard base) and it doesn't appear under my line art. I really don't know how to solve that, maybe someone can help me?? Please! Thank you.

[@goldtigrera]

is it possibile to put the selected Content back where it previously was?

[@Gdquest]

Not sure what you mean there. Ctrl Z doesn't cut it?

[@goldtigrera]

let's say you selected an object, you moved it around the canvas but decided to place the object where it was, before selecting and moving it

[@Gdquest]

Ctrl Z - or otherwise, you need to copy the layer your object is on before moving it, so you have a safe copy with your object in the right position. (Ctrl J to duplicate layer)

[@rubanzhall]

My Krita stop responding every time I try to move or resize a selection :(

[@xxzoruaxv]

How do I copy a portion and paste? (i.e. Eyes)

[@Gdquest]

Once you have a selection active (as shown in the video), Press Ctrl C to copy, and Ctrl V to paste it. You can also find these options in the Edit menu at the top of the window.

[@lunabedel6871]

Hi, nice video, although I can't test anything cause when I draw a selection and try to move everything that's inside, only the selection would move, without the drawing. I tried using the keyboard but whenever I click on Ctrl+ any key, the mouse would stop moving and stay as if I'm not doing anything...

[@purou8192]

same thing happening with me. If you figured out pls tell me :(

[@lunabedel6871]

@@purou8192 yep, thing is, you can move whats inside the selection but only one layer at a time. For exemple you have your sketch, ink then color. Well, if you wanna move those 3, draw a selection. Selection will be in a special layer. If you want to move the sketch inside the selection click on the layer of the sketch and take the appropriate tool. Do it again with every layer you wanna move. If you stay on the selection layer, youll only move the selection. Sry, my english aint that good but I hope it helped.

[@maxostlund9334]

I want to be able to click on a pixel and choose that color for my brush... How do I do that?

[@Gdquest]

MaxKyckling Should be Ctrl click

[@maxostlund9334]

GDquest okay thanks!

[@maciejgrzegorzoprzadek7401]

Can you tell me is this possible to select layer just like in Photoshop by clicking ctrl and on thumbnail of layer?

[@Gdquest]

Not like in Photoshop, but you can select the content of any selected layer or group with right click -> select opaque. Ideally you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to it - it's quite useful!

[@Gdquest]

Krita has a powerful system to handle dynamic alpha masks: Alpha inherit. You can solve many cases where you'd Ctrl click on thumbnails in Photoshop with it. It's a slightly different workflow, but very efficient! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2Orc2htfMqYjKc

[@maciejgrzegorzoprzadek7401]

thanks! Love your videos btw

[@haydenpogrebyak3576]

how to "remove limbs" i could not use what u did

[@keatonsmokingacaffeineblun3275]

When i use the selection tool, how do i zoom something with it?

[@Gdquest]

Sorry, didn't understand your question. You can always zoom in and out with Ctrl Space and click.

[@keatonsmokingacaffeineblun3275]

Alright! Thanks!

[@DisturbedZ]

ok My question is I have a picture on a white background and I want to select only the image and move it to a new image but everytime I do it it selects the background as well?

[@Gdquest]

If you have everything on a single layer and you select everything, that's normal. You have to manually select the area that you want to copy to a new document, using the value selection tools that you have at your disposal.

[@LuisaSantos-rk1ig]

I have a question is there a way or button to push so when I color is stay in the lines and doesn't go out of the lines??? this has nothing to do with video I think

[@liruichen]

Thank you much!!

[@wasder26v]

05:45 Of what I noticed, Fuzzyness set to 0 doesn't let the tool grab any pixels. It just makes the tool unable to use, so I think Krita devs should make the lowest possible amounth of it to be 1. Or are there actual some uses of it being on 0?

[@hamzamiah6783]

I don’t have the advanced colour selector, or the anything on the bottom, I just have this annoying small square screen, that says “&Tool Options - Krita” it’s really annoying🤬

[@toutac]

thanks a lot

[@samuraitm4328]

good

[@BaronVonTacocat]

Great tutorial. : D #SUBBED

[@AkaRi.00iscd]

oh

[@arandomambipom9444]

I have to say the content is amazing. But I'm sorry, the audio recording is just headache inducing. Its like his mouth is so close the mic and he's yelling into it the entire time.

[@MobileDecay]

Gimp is way better at this.

[@suzannealbiges8333]

How can I copy a selection to do 2 same ones ?

[@Gdquest]

Ctrl C Ctrl V to copy and paste the content of a selection on a given layer.

[@seasonfilms9375]

Is there a magic select wand like in PS that automatically sects an area?

[@Windowz98_]

How do i invert selection layer.?

[@rose-if6vq]

How do i invert a selection?