User guide

Manipulating Images 99
Soft-edged and hard-edged selections
Antialiasing and feathering are different ways of controlling what happens at
the edges of a selection. Both produce softer edges that result in smoother
blending of elements that are being combined in the image. You can control
either option for the Standard and QuickShape Selection tools, using the Feather
input box (or slider) and Antialias check box on the Context toolbar.
Antialiasing produces visibly smooth edges by making the selection's edge
pixels semi-transparent. (As a layer option, it's not available on the
Background layer, which doesn't support transparency.)
If an antialiased selection (for example, one pasted from another image)
includes partially opaque white or black edge pixels, you can use Matting
options on the Layers menu to remove these pixels from the edge region,
yielding a smoother blend between the selection and the image content
below. (Fully opaque edge pixels are not affected.)
Feathering reduces the sharpness of a selection's edges, not by varying
transparency, but by partially selecting edge pixels. If you lay down paint on
a feathered selection, the paint will actually be less intense around the
edges.
Threshold converts a feathered, soft-edged selection into a hard-edged
selection (use Modify>Threshold). As with feathering, you won't see an
immediate effect on the image, but painting and other editing operations
will work differently inside the selection.
Paint to Select mode
The Brush Selection Tool lets you paint a selection. However, as a more
advanced feature, Paint to Select mode lets you:
use finer brush control to modify your selection.
modify the selection using standard painting and editing tools according to
the lightness of the colors you apply.
See PhotoPlus Help for more information.