User Guide

Using Selections210
Converting Selections to
and from Shapes
You can convert selections to shapes,
and shapes to selections. When you
convert a selection to a shape, you can
use the Shape Edit tools to adjust the
path and define exactly the selection
area you want. Then you can convert
the shape back to a selection.
You can convert both path-based and
pixel-based selections to shapes.
When the selection is pixel-based,
Corel Painter may create multiple
shapes. The selection marquee is used
to define outline paths for the new
shape or shapes.
Converting a shape creates a path-
based selection. This is useful if the
path you want for a selection already
exists as a shape. This will be the case
for text or if you’ve been using the
shape tools to edit the selection path.
For more information about shapes,
refer to “Creating Shapes” on
page 368.
You can also convert a selection to a
layer. For more information, refer to
“To create a layer based on a
selection:” on page 233.
To convert the current selection
to a shape:
• Choose Select menu > Convert to
Shape.
Corel Painter creates the shape,
giving it the default shape
attributes.
Tip
•
If a pixel-based selection has a lot of
intermediate grayscale values, the result
might not be what you want. Save the
selection to a channel, and then use
Brightness/Contrast to increase definition.
Load the channel to the selection and then
convert it to a shape.
To convert a shape to a selection:
1 Select the shape you want to
convert.
The shape must be closed.
2 Choose Shapes menu > Convert
to Selection.
The outline of the shape creates
the selection path. Everything
within the outline is 100% selected.
Saving Selections
Saving a selection generates a
channel. Channels save selections for
future use and provide additional
editing control.
When you save a selection, you can
create a new channel or modify an
existing channel. You can replace an
existing channel, add the selection to
an existing channel, subtract it from
an existing channel, or intersect it
with an existing channel. For more
information, refer to “Combining
Selections Using Boolean Operations”
on page 212.
To save a selection to a new
channel:
1 Create a selection.
2 Do one of the following:
•Choose Select menu > Save
Selection.