How to Use the Object Selection Tool in Photoshop 2020

Tutorial Description

The Object Select Tool in Photoshop 2020 is a great way to make a fast cutout of a subject or object, no matter how complicated the background. Learn how to use the Object Select Tool in a variety of situations, and how it can help speed up your workflow!

While these new tools are helpful for getting started with complex cutouts and selections, there are manual tools in Photoshop that are best when you need precision. Learn about professional tools and techniques for making advanced selections in How to Change and Remove Backgrounds in Photoshop!

How to Use the Object Selection Tool

The new Object Selection Tool can be found in the Select and Mask dialog. Go to the Select menu, choose Select and Mask, and you’ll find Object Selection in the toolbar on the left.

There are two different options for tracing around a subject or object; Rectangle and Lasso. Rectangle will allow you to make a rectangular marquee around whatever you’re trying to cutout, Lasso allows you to draw freehand for a little more precision. We recommend trying both, just make sure that Object Subtraction is checked.

Just click and drag (or draw) around the subject, and Photoshop will use its smart technology to figure out what you’re trying to cutout. We found that is does a pretty good job determining what subject or object you’re trying to select, but the edges are rough. Select and Mask does offer options for refining the edge which you’ll likely need to use.

Like some of the other new automatic tools, Object Selection does an impressive job getting started with a selection, but for professional work, you’ll likely need to use more manual tools to refine it (or just use them from the start).