
Paint Tool SAI is a popular digital art software that offers a variety of selection tools for artists to work with. While the software provides a range of selection options, shrinking a selection is not a straightforward process and requires a workaround. This is achieved by using a combination of the “Invert” and “Increment” tools, along with adjustments to the selection size, to effectively shrink the desired area. The “Invert” tool, as the name suggests, inverts the selection, and when used with the “Increment” tool, helps to refine the selection and prevent color bleeding. Additionally, the selection brush size can be modified, and settings like opacity and pen pressure can be adjusted to further control the selection area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Workaround | Selection >> invert selection >> expand selection by 1 (repeat as needed) >> invert selection |
| Selection Tool | Brush for selecting, adjustable size, opacity, pen pressure, and texture |
| Magic Wand Tool | 3 detection modes: Transparency(Strict), Transparency(Fuzzy), and Color Difference |
| Invert | Inverts the selection; coupled with "Increment" tool, can be used for border creation |
| Remove Selections | Brush painting tool that acts like an eraser |
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What You'll Learn

Use the 'Invert' tool to invert your selection
The "Invert" tool in Paint Tool SAI is a simple yet powerful feature that allows you to quickly change your selection. When you have a selection, using the "Invert" tool will deselect the currently selected area and select everything else outside of it. This is especially useful when you need to select an irregular area or when you want to isolate a specific part of your image.
To use the "Invert" tool effectively, follow these steps:
- Start by making your initial selection using the selection tools available in Paint Tool SAI. You can use the standard selection marquee or the magic wand tool to create your initial selection.
- Once you have your desired selection, go to the selection bar at the top of the workspace and click on the "Invert" tool. This will immediately invert your selection, selecting everything outside of your initial choice.
- If needed, you can refine your inverted selection further. One way to do this is by using the "Increment" tool. By selecting the outside of your line art and clicking "Increment" a few times, you can slightly bleed the selection into the line art.
- After making any refinements, you can now work with your inverted selection. This might involve colouring, transforming, or applying effects to the selected area.
Remember that the "Invert" tool is a quick and straightforward way to select everything outside of your initial choice. It is particularly useful when you need to work with complex selections or want to isolate a specific part of your image for editing.
By mastering the "Invert" tool, you can streamline your workflow and achieve more intricate selections with ease.
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Use the 'Increment' tool to adjust the selection
The Increment tool in Paint Tool SAI is a useful feature for adjusting selections. It can be used to create borders and fix colour bleeds.
To use the Increment tool, start by selecting the outside of your line art. Then, click on the Increment tool a couple of times. This will cause the colour to bleed slightly into the line art. If you then invert the selection, the colour won't bleed through. This is a simple way to select your line art before colouring and can be applied to borders on any element.
You can also use the Increment tool to adjust the thickness of your border. Simply press Increment a few times, depending on how thick you want the border to be. Then, add a layer underneath and fill it in with colour. This method works for writing, drawings, and other elements.
In Paint Tool SAI2, the "Increment selection" feature can be found under "Dilate Selection 1px" in the "Selection" menu. This increases the size of the selection. Conversely, there is also an option to shrink the selection by 1px.
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Change the 'Width' or 'Height' from the 'Arrange' menu
PaintTool SAI offers a straightforward way to resize images. This tool also comes with an easy interface system so that anyone can use it without confusion.
To change the width or height from the Arrange menu, follow these steps:
- Open the image you want to edit.
- Go to the Arrange menu and point to Sizing.
- Select either Same Width or Same Height from the Sizing menu.
- Specify the desired width or height in the pop-up window.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
You can also resize your image by going to the Canvas option from the top editing tools and selecting Change Size. This will allow you to input your desired width and height directly into the pop-up window.
Additionally, PaintTool SAI offers a Transform tool that allows you to resize your image by dragging the picture. To use this tool, simply press Ctrl + T after opening your image in PaintTool SAI.
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Use the 'Magic Wand' tool to select by colour
The Magic Wand tool in Paint Tool SAI is a versatile and easy-to-use selection tool with three detection modes: Transparency (Strict), Transparency (Fuzzy), and Colour Difference. While the first two modes are not very useful in most situations, the Colour Difference mode is highly recommended as it allows you to select areas based on their colour.
The "Colour Diff." bar within this mode lets you adjust the strictness of the colour selection. You can make precise adjustments to select a specific coloured area or broaden your selection to capture a wider range of colours. With some experimentation, you'll quickly get a feel for how the tool works.
To refine your selection further, you can use the "Invert" and "Increment" tools together. First, make your initial selection, then use the "Invert" tool to select the opposite area. By selecting outside of your original selection and clicking "Increment" a few times, you can slightly bleed into the line art. Inverting the selection again will prevent the colour from bleeding through, giving you a clean and precise selection.
The Magic Wand tool's sensitivity and detection mode settings offer a lot of flexibility for selecting by colour in Paint Tool SAI. Whether you need to select a specific colour or a range of colours, this tool can help you achieve the desired results with a bit of experimentation and adjustment.
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Use the 'Brush' tool to select by painting
Paint Tool SAI is a popular digital painting program, especially favoured for its simplicity and wide range of tools. One of the many features it offers is the ability to select by painting with a brush tool.
To create a custom brush, open Paint Tool SAI and check the tools section on the left side of your screen. You will see blank white squares next to the default brush options. Right-click on one of these empty squares to bring up the custom brush menu. You can then choose the type of brush you want, such as a pencil, eraser, marker, watercolour brush, regular brush, or airbrush.
Your new brush will appear in the previously selected square. Clicking on your new brush twice will allow you to add custom details, such as naming and describing the brush. You can also adjust the brush's density, texture, shape, softness, and hardness. These settings can be found in the advanced settings tab.
Once you have created your custom brush, you can use it to select areas of your artwork by painting over them. This will allow you to work within the selected area until you hit "Clear Selection" on the Quick Bar. You can also move to another layer and paint there, while still working within the selected area.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no direct way to shrink a selection in Paint Tool SAI. However, you can use the \"Invert\" and \"Increment\" tools together to achieve a similar result. First, select the outside of your artwork and invert the selection. Then, click "Increment" a few times to expand the selection slightly. Finally, invert the selection again to get your desired result.
One of the most useful selection tools is the magic wand tool, which has three detection modes: Transparency (Strict), Transparency (Fuzzy), and Color Difference. The Color Difference mode is particularly handy as it allows you to select specific colored areas by adjusting the "Color diff." bar.
Yes, you can modify the size, opacity, pen pressure, and even add texture to your selection brush.











































