
Selecting a portion of an image in Microsoft Paint can be done in a few different ways. One way is to use the Select button and then mark the desired area on the image. This will allow you to move the selected part without affecting the rest of the image. Another way is to use the rectangular select option to draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep. If you are using Windows 7 Paint, you can also use the little white square handles at the bottom, right side, and bottom-right corner to crop the image from the bottom and right sides. Additionally, you can use third-party software such as IrfanView to crop images by defining a crop box and adjusting it by moving its top, bottom, left, or right sides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | Microsoft Paint, IrfanView |
| Selection Tools | Rectangle Select Tool, Lasso Select Tool, Ellipse Select Tool, Magic Wand Tool |
| Selection Process | Click and drag the mouse cursor to create a selection shape, use the "handles" at the bottom, right side, and bottom right corner to crop the image |
| Active Selection | Indicated by a dashed moving outline known as "dancing ants", with a blue highlight applied to the selected area |
| Editing Options | Confined to the active selection, use the Move Selection tool to move, rotate, and scale the selection |
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What You'll Learn
- Using the rectangular select option, draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep
- Use the Lasso Select Tool to make freeform selections
- Utilise the Ellipse Select Tool for elliptical or circular selections
- The Magic Wand Tool selects areas with similar colours
- Download IrfanView to define the crop box by dragging over the area and adjusting it

Using the rectangular select option, draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep
To select a part of an image in Paint, you can use the rectangular select option. This allows you to draw a rectangle around the area of the image you want to keep.
- Open the image in Paint.
- Click on the "Select" tool, which will give you the option to choose a rectangular selection.
- Use your mouse cursor to draw a rectangle around the area of the image you want to keep. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse to create the rectangle.
- Once you have created the rectangle, release the mouse button. This will fix your selection.
- You can then use the Crop tool to remove the parts of the image that are outside of the rectangle.
It is important to note that the process may vary slightly depending on the version of Paint you are using. For example, in Windows 7 Paint, there are little white square "handles" at the bottom, right side, and bottom right corner that can be used for basic cropping from the bottom and right sides. However, if you want to crop from the top or left side, you will need to use the rectangular select tool to draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep.
Additionally, there are other selection tools available in Paint, such as the Lasso Select Tool, which allows you to make freeform or elliptical selections, and the Magic Wand Tool, which selects areas of similar colours.
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Use the Lasso Select Tool to make freeform selections
The Lasso Select Tool allows you to draw a freeform selection region around an object in an image. This is particularly useful when you want to select an irregularly shaped object that wouldn't be easily selected using a standard geometric shape.
To use the Lasso Select Tool in Paint, first, open the image you want to edit in the program. Then, locate the Lasso Select Tool, usually found in the Selection Tools menu. Click on the Lasso Select Tool to activate it.
Once the tool is selected, you can begin drawing your selection. Click and drag your cursor around the object you want to select. The selection area will follow your cursor, creating a freeform shape. To close the shape, simply release the mouse button, and a straight line will automatically link the current cursor position back to the starting point.
After you've made your selection, you can further refine it using various options in the tool's menu. For example, you can adjust the feathering width to soften the edges of your selection, or use options like "Load mask into selection" or "Invert selection" to modify your selection as needed.
The Lasso Select Tool is a versatile feature that gives you more control over your image editing process, allowing you to select and manipulate specific parts of your image with precision.
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Utilise the Ellipse Select Tool for elliptical or circular selections
The Ellipse Select Tool is a handy feature in digital art software that allows you to make elliptical or circular selections on your canvas. This tool is perfect for choosing oval or circular portions of your image that you want to edit or adjust.
To use the Ellipse Select Tool effectively, follow these steps:
- Locate the Ellipse Select Tool: In your digital art software, find the selection tools or the specific Ellipse Select Tool. It is usually located in the toolbar or under the selection area tools.
- Choose the Ellipse Sub Tool: Some software may have a specific Ellipse Sub Tool within the selection tools. Choose this option to specifically create elliptical or circular selections.
- Drag Diagonally on the Canvas: Click and drag your mouse cursor diagonally on the canvas to create an elliptical selection. If you want to create a perfect circle, hold down the Shift key while dragging.
- Modify the Selection: Once you've created the initial selection, you can modify it further. Use additional selection tools or adjust the settings in the Sub Tool Detail palette to change the shape, roundness of corners, or other available options.
- Confirm the Selection: After you've made your elliptical or circular selection and adjusted it to your liking, release the mouse button. This will confirm and fix your selection.
- Perform Editing Operations: With your selection active, you can now perform various editing operations within that selected area. You can apply effects, adjustments, or drawing confined to that specific area.
Remember that the Ellipse Select Tool is excellent for creating circular or oval selections, but you can also use other selection tools like the Rectangle tool or the Lasso tool for different shapes. The Ellipse Select Tool enhances your ability to make precise elliptical or circular choices, contributing to a smoother and more controlled editing process.
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The Magic Wand Tool selects areas with similar colours
The Magic Wand Tool is a selection tool that allows you to select areas in your images based on colour or brightness. For example, you can use the tool to select a pink rose surrounded by green leaves or a dark area in an otherwise bright image. The Magic Wand Tool is particularly useful for selecting objects with complex edges, such as hair, and for selecting text characters.
To use the Magic Wand Tool, open your image in an image editing software such as PaintShop Pro or Paint.NET. Go to the Selection tools group in the left-hand Tools toolbar and select the Magic Wand Tool. Then, simply click on the area you want to select.
There are several options and settings you can adjust to achieve a precise selection. For example, you can use the Tolerance setting to control how similar the colours of selected pixels need to be to the colour of the pixel you clicked on. You can also use selection modes such as Contiguous and Global to control how the selection interacts with existing selections.
Additionally, you can make complex selections by first over-selecting and then removing areas that are not required. This method is useful when the subject you want to select is surrounded by a background with relatively low detail. You can also use the Subtractive selection mode and the Alt key to remove areas that are not needed from your selection.
The Magic Wand Tool is a powerful feature that can help you select areas with similar colours in your images quickly and accurately. With the ability to adjust settings and use selection modes, you can refine your selections to achieve the desired result.
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Download IrfanView to define the crop box by dragging over the area and adjusting it
If you want to select part of an image in Paint, you can download IrfanView, which is a free image viewer and editor that supports a wide range of image formats. With IrfanView, you can define the crop box by dragging over the area and adjusting it. Here's how:
Step 1: Open the Image in IrfanView
Locate the image file on your computer and open it with IrfanView. You can do this by navigating to "File > Open" in the IrfanView menu bar or simply double-clicking on the image file.
Step 2: Define the Crop Area
Once the image is open in IrfanView, you can define the crop area by clicking and dragging your mouse over the desired portion of the image. This will create a selection box that you can adjust to the size and shape you need.
Step 3: Adjust the Selection Box
You can adjust the selection box by moving its sides or corners. To maintain the aspect ratio of the selection box, hold down the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard while dragging one of the corners. This will ensure that the width and height proportions are maintained as you resize the box.
Step 4: Finalize and Crop the Image
When you are satisfied with the selection box, you can finalize the crop by releasing the mouse button. To crop the image, simply click inside the selection box using the left mouse button. This will crop the image to the defined area.
Additional Tips:
- If you want to move the selection box to a different part of the image, hold down the right mouse button inside the box. This will allow you to drag and reposition the box without changing its size.
- When saving the cropped image, it is recommended to use file formats such as JPEG or GIF. Adding the word "web" to the filename indicates that the image has been optimized for web use.
By following these steps, you can easily select and crop a portion of an image using IrfanView. This method provides more flexibility and control compared to the basic cropping tools available in some paint programs.
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Frequently asked questions
Use one of the three Shape Selection tools to draw a rectangle or square around the area you want to select.
Use the Ellipse Select Tool, one of the three Shape Selection tools, to make elliptical or circular selections.
Use the Magic Wand Selection tool. This tool selects areas of the active layer that have similar colours.
Once a selection has been made, you can move it, rotate it, and scale it using the Move Selection tool. Alternatively, you can download IrfanView to fine-tune the selected area by defining a crop box and adjusting it by moving its sides.










































