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Answered

Magic Wand tool selects everything

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
November 10, 2020
3 replies
12634 views

I have a single layer one colour PNG file and I'm trying to use the magic wand to select part of a logo to change the colour, however, the entire layer is being selected. I'm in Photoshop 22.0.0. I've tried changing the tolerance, selecting 'sample all layers', I've restarted Photoshop and reset the default tools... nothing seems to be working.

Any ideas Community?

Problem or error

Correct answer DistinctlyMe

I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I just ran into the same thing. Simple image, only two colors, regardless of what I did, the Magic Wand selected everything.

For me, it turns out I had hit Q instead of W on my keyboard while looking at the image, and I turned on Quick Mask.

I was losing my mind ... until I saw "Quick Mask" beside the file's name (on the tab for the document). I vaguely remember seeing the red mask overlay, but in my haste, I guess I had hit W right after and went along my obliviously merry way.

I hit Q again, and voila. I'm no longer selecting every pixel with the wand.

DistinctlyMeCorrect answer

Participant

I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I just ran into the same thing. Simple image, only two colors, regardless of what I did, the Magic Wand selected everything.

For me, it turns out I had hit Q instead of W on my keyboard while looking at the image, and I turned on Quick Mask.

I was losing my mind ... until I saw "Quick Mask" beside the file's name (on the tab for the document). I vaguely remember seeing the red mask overlay, but in my haste, I guess I had hit W right after and went along my obliviously merry way.

I hit Q again, and voila. I'm no longer selecting every pixel with the wand.

A

Anonymous

@DistinctlyMe This helped me! Thanks.

Rista12

Participating Frequently

I cut out the face with the Rectangular Marquee, put it on it's own layer, selected with Magic Wand and filled with Edit>Fill>Foreground Color. Is that what you are trying to do?

M

Martin5FDFAuthor

Participating Frequently

Yeah, that doesn't work for me, I'm afraid. Not sure why, I've been working in Photoshop for over 20 years and the Magic Wand has never let me down for simple one colour selection, especially on a transparent background layer... I've used Jane's transparency lock workaround this time and for anything more complex I wouldn't use the wand anyway... still an odd one though. Cheers!

A

Anonymous

Hi

Can you post the png file or a screenshot of Photoshop with all the pertinent panels opened

M

Martin5FDFAuthor

Participating Frequently

Here you go!

jane-e

Community Expert

So the CMD click on the thumbnail works but changing the tolerance does nothing. Neither does the reset tool option. I'll reboot the system tonight and no doubt it will mysteriously correct itself! 🤣

Thanks for your help, I'll use one of your other workarounds! Cheers...

You're welcome, Martin, and I'm glad you've found two ways that will work for the immediate issue.

There is something flakey about your Magic Wand tool, though. Try it in another document and see if it works elsewhere. As a 20-year PS veteran, you know how it should be working.

If it fails in other documents, and if rebooting does not work, then consider resetting Preferences, as they may be corrupt. Go to Photoshop > Preferences > General > Reset Preferences on Quit, after first backing up any customization such as Actions, Gradients, Custom Shapes, etc., as it will give you a clean install.

~ Jane

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