Visual content	Issues for visual content	Image production	Image acquisition	Image manipulation	Image creation

All of these adjustments can be applied selectively, by making a selection using a variety of tools. A selection applies a mask to your image, so that only the selected area will be affected by any adjustments you make to it.

The basic selection tools are: marquee selection (rectangle or ellipse), lasso selection (freehand or polygonal) and magic wand (selects particular colour areas). These tools are available in both Photoshop and Fireworks (see Photoshop toolbox EXAMPLE). Holding down the shift key while using one of these tools will add areas to an existing selection, the ALT (or option) key will subtract areas.

By using the pen tool (lower left of toolbox), you can draw an editable shape and convert it to a selection using the 'Paths' window.

Selections can be saved (Select>save selection), feathered for soft edges (Select>feather), inverted (Select>inverse) or combined (by adding a saved selection to a new selection).

Possibly the most useful retouching tool is the 'clone stamp'. This allows you to select an area to be used as a 'paintbrush' for adjacent areas ­ allowing you to fill in scratches and other imperfections in the image. Select the clone stamp tool (), select a paintbrush option in the 'Brushes' palette (usually a smallish airbrush is best), and hold down the option key while you click on the image to select the clone source. Then begin painting - it takes a little practice, but is a powerful tool. Both Photoshop and Fireworks offer this tool.

EXAMPLE Photoshop toolbox