How to choose multi paths?

[BaCbDc]

I vectorized an image and got a lot of paths that  I want to unite to

one path per segment of a christmas tree image

(I got the answer how to unite here Vectorized image: Change many paths to one path with color gradients?​.

My image with the first paths of a segment marked:

I choosed every path with a pressed shift key and left mouse click.

But the problem is that I missed some paths. I had to click unite

some times to see which paths I have missed and go back to choose

them with shift+left mouse click. I have five segments with about 20 paths

per segment so it's a solvable task to mark all paths.

But if I had 1000 paths it would be time-consuming to mark all

paths with shift+left mouse click.

So is there a possibilitiy that I can only mark the first and the last path

of a segment and the paths between are automatically marked

(but not the dark green outer path)?

[Doug A Roberts]

select everything, then deselect the dark green outer path.

[BaCbDc]

Can you please say how I can deselect a path?

All paths selected:

[Kris Hunt]

What you're doing is way more trouble than it's worth. Try this instead. In Photoshop, change your image to this with the use of the Magic Wand:

Then import the result into Illustrator and use Image Trace on it. Or just trace it manually with the Pen tool, since it's quite simple.

[John Mensinger]

BaCbDc  wrote

Can you please say how I can deselect a path?

Left-click it while holding down Shift.

Or, to select all but one path, select that one path and choose Select > Inverse...

[Doug A Roberts]

i don't understand why you're doing this with image trace. you could have drawn this tree perfectly 100 times over by now.

[BaCbDc]

Can be that image trace is not useful for this example.

But I think it's good to know how to use it for other

examples where it can be useful.

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

1. select and hide (Command 3) your dark green outlines
2. Command A and delete
3. Unhide (Option Command 3)
4. (K) to switch to live paint bucket
5. click in middle to fill with light green

Basically same idea as Doug, I just use the hide command as a proofing tool to ensure the correct selection is made.

And no you cannot make a ranged selection, as you can with type.

[BaCbDc]

Thank you all for your answers with the different ways of a solution.

[Mike_Gondek]

For my part you are welcome.