Polygonal lasso tool

[daleslad]

Hi all just joined the forum so this is my first post, but not a very memorable one I'm sure.
I'm in the process of selecting the head and shoulders of a person and got about 2/3 rds of the way around which took me a long time when somehow the end of the line I was working shot across and made connection to the beginning point which ended my selection process. Maybe I clicked too fast or something but it happened and now I'm left with part of a head selected.
I've tried working with the plus and minus to try eliminate the line that shot across but I'm not having any luck, maybe it can't be done but that's why I'm posting, hopefully someone can put me straight.
When I try to add or subtract it won't let me intersect the original selection line, I mean I can use a place on the line to anchor my starting point but when i come back to it at some other point, it's not showing the the little circle indicator that tells me I've completed the selection.
Thanks

 

[KmH]

What software and version of are you using?

 

[daleslad]

CS3

 

[Robin Usagani]

Just press ctrl-Z to undo and ctrl-shift-Z to redo

 

[Studio7Four]

Don't think of it in terms of modifying the line (perimeter), think of it in terms of modifying the area. If you use the + (add selection) and trace out a new area it will be added to your original selection. If these overlap you will end up with one selection with a new perimeter; if they don't overlap you will have two distinct areas.

To simplify your example, if you were tracing a circle starting at the top and going clockwise until the bottom (12:00-3:00-6:00) where your selection closed itself, you would end up with the right half of a pie. What you need to do is additionally select the left half of the pie.

 

[daleslad]

Thanks Rob, that did the trick, appreciate the help.

Schwettylens, I'm afraid using the keys strokes you recommended didn't seem to make a difference, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lyonsroar]

In CS5 if you double click whilst selecting something it automatically closes up the area. It takes the quickest route back to the starting point. Don't double click unless you are done selecting. I've been screwed by this several times as well.

CTRL+Z doesn't work because it doesn't go back to your point selection, it just goes back to before you even started selecting.