Would like an easier way to select a specific area with the circle selection tool (Selecting an Accurate Circle is not Possible)

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I asked tech support about selecting a circle. They said sorry that doesn't really work.

Can we fix it please?

The details:
Hi guys,

Snagit 10. How do I select a circle with the selection tool? That is, how can a select an existing circle not how do I make a circle selection. This video says it better: http://screencast.com/t/j0m7nOacR

Thanks,
Manny

Manny Carvalho, Champion

1171 Posts
185 Reply Likes

Posted 8 years ago

8 years ago

David M. Converse

440 Posts
26 Reply Likes

Hi Manny, if you are using the Selection tool in Snagit Editor, hold down the Shift key to constrain the area to a circle. Shift and Alt/Option are pretty common modifier keys for selection in graphics programs.

8 years ago

Manny Carvalho, Champion

1171 Posts
185 Reply Likes

I understand that. Please look at the video and see if you can do what I'm trying to do. That is, select an existing circle with the cirlce selection tool using the shift key.

8 years ago

Mike Curtis, Employee

2204 Posts
216 Reply Likes

Thanks for your video Manny. I can see how it "drifts". This has happened to me before too, and one might expect that some coordinates would stay in place. For example, the origin (0,0) should stay fixed or perhaps where you start the drag.

I'm checking to see if this is a bug or as designed. If as designed, I'd be curious as to the reasoning behind it, and if it's a bug we should get it fixed.

Mike Curtis

8 years ago

David M. Converse

440 Posts
26 Reply Likes

Ah I see what you are trying to do. To select an existing area, your selection must start at the corner of the square bounding box to that circular area.

I recorded a short screencast that should help illustrate this, I actually put a rectangular shape over the existing circle to make it clearer. To select without grabbing the objects below, use the Alt key as a modifier (so Shift-Alt when I used the Selection tool.) And yes I know it can be a bit tricky!

http://www.screencast.com/t/fOVb8Gin

8 years ago

Mike Curtis, Employee

2204 Posts
216 Reply Likes

Hi again Manny, David,
I hope you don't mind me changing this to a feature request. This is as designed and I checked Paint, PowerPoint and Photoshop which do it the same way too. It does make more sense when you consider non-rectangle shapes like circles and stars. The key, like David illustrated, is that it's confined to the area of a bounding box. When drawing from upper left to lower right, there is consistency in the sense that the +Y value and -X value does remain the same.

It still could be handy to have the functionality it sounds like you're looking for, and your video illustrates. I think when I tried it, I was trying to make buttons that you pin on a jacket. I had a very precise circle I wanted to extract from my image. It sounds like there are a few ideas for how this could be done. One might be another key combo that holds the origin constant.

Thanks for posting Manny! I learned something new today!
Mike C

8 years ago

Manny Carvalho, Champion

1171 Posts
185 Reply Likes

Very clever David!

I hadn't thought of that but it certainly makes sense even if it's not obvious.

The problem with the selection tool is that you have to start exactly right the first time. If you don't then you have to start over. I realize it's working as designed but it's difficult to get this to work precisely and do it easily. Your method David should help.

@Mike

Feel free to change as you like.

Thank you all - including the tech support guys [Nick] - for the very fast response.

8 years ago

Manny Carvalho, Champion

1171 Posts
185 Reply Likes

Hey, it really works! - http://screencast.com/t/0lVbhrIWEhaI

Thanks for the clever idea David.

8 years ago

David M. Converse

440 Posts
26 Reply Likes

Yeah this is kind of a funky workaround but you can at least get there.

Photoshop allows you to use modifiers- move a selection during the select process by holding the spacebar, select from center (origin) with alt/option, and use arrow keys to move an existing selection.

Mike, I think this would make a great feature request.

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