I am having trouble selecting a color.

[iDad]

If you're using it for print the pen tool, if it's just for web use the marquee tool will be fine

 

[dv8_fx]

Pen tool is the way to go... takes a bit of getting used to but the results are unmistakable.

 

[iDad]

I actually should say the lasso tool or polygonal lasso tool

 

[spoot088]

i still think the color range selector should do it perfectly. here is a screen shot that i think show the wires have a combination of red, pinkish, light reds, lights pinks.. but no whites, greys or black.. the rest of the image seems to have only black, grey whites..

so if i selected those all pixels with the reddish spectrum is should perfectly select the wires. here is a screen shot of what i mean

 

[iDad]

Is this for print on web use?

 

[spoot088]

no i'm just trying to isolate the wires because i am going to animate the colors in a video program

 

[dv8_fx]

If that is how the image displays in your monitor..... your image has specks of red scattered all over the place even on the black speakers which the color range selection set at red may pick up. It's these scattered, unwanted pixels which will cause PS to give you that message.

What's more, it will give you a dirty selection - with random artifacts selected as well. It may look like a good, clean selection in the preview window when actually it's not.

 

[iDad]

What I would do is copy the wire along with the background then paste duplicate layer put in color burn mode this is what you will have

the copy I took includes the faded lines that you created within that image just remove those before you make the next layer

 

[spoot088]

but if I want to put effects just on the wires won't i have to scoop out the wires themselves. how you did it had the background color in it as well. is that what color burn blend does?

 

[iDad]

How familiar are you with Photoshop?

 

[spoot088]

not very obviously. i can do basic stuff. still learning the more intermediate techniques. i'm a musician not a graphic designer btw,

 

[ALB68]

If the red wires is the only thing that is red, use the magic wand and uncheck the contiguous box. When you click the red, it will select all of it. Then, enter Cntrl J (Windows) and you will have a new layer with the red wires only.

 

[spoot088]

If the red wires is the only thing that is red, use the magic wand and uncheck the contiguous box. When you click the red, it will select all of it. Then, enter Cntrl J (Windows) and you will have a new layer with the red wires only.

that selects all the speakers really awkwardly and none of the wire. i guess i'm going to have to read up. i'm pretty bad at this