By using the selecting tools, it is possible to simultaneously edit several separated areas. Before continue to discuss selections deeply, it is necessary to introduce the concept of Mask. A mask could be simply interpreted as the inversion of a selection, i.e., the part of an image that is not selected.
When a selection is established, we can apply tools and filters in this area only, and the corresponding mask area will not be changed at all. Users can switch between selection and mask by using the Inverse command in the Select menu. Musemage provides three selection display modes, Marching Ants Line only, Mask Only, and Marching Ants Line and Mask. If you cannot tell selection from mask, choose the last option "Marching Ants Line and Mask" and the difference will be emphasized. The mask area is labeled by pale purple.
Musemage provides a set of basic selecting tools, including Rectangular Marquee tool, Lasso tool, Polygonal Lasso tool, and Magic Select tool.
Create more selections by the New command and tailor selections by Subtracting and Intersecting existing Selecting tools.
Selection can be moved, inversed, copied, cut, pasted, deleted and deselected.

A selection can be created by these tools, Rectangular Marquee tool, Lasso tool, Polygonal Lasso tool, and Magic Select tool. Cancel a selection by choosing Deselect in the Select menu or clicking any position outside the selection in the image.
All selecting tools can be found in the Select menu or the Tools and Control Bar. A marching ant line should be visible after a successful selection operation. For more information on selection and mask, please see Section 8.1. Different selecting tools cannot be used at the same time.

This tool creates a rectangular selection. After launching the tool, click and drag on the image to get a rectangular region.
Tips: Press Shift key during dragging to create a square selection. Press Alt key during dragging to create a selection starting from the center, instead of being from the corner.

This tool creates a hand-drawn selection. After choosing this tool, click and draw a shape. The area within the hand-drawn lines is the selection.
Tips: Such a selection needs not to be closed.

This tool generates a polygonal selection with straight lines as its edges. Choose this tool, click a start position, and then click on another position to form a straight line. Continue to click endpoints until finally hit the start position for the second time, or double-click at any locations.

This tool selects an area in which the pixel colors are consistently within a color range. Choose a value in Threshold box to set the tolerance or color range. The tolerance is defined by the pixel at the clicking point.

A user can adjust a given selection by performing add, subtract, intersect operations. Selection can be moved, inversed, copied, cut, pasted, deleted and deselected. Selection can be either a connected region or several unconnected regions. Tools, filters and adjustments can only be operated in selection, and mask will never be changed.
New Selection
We have several ways to give up the current selection and create a new one. Click Deselect in the Select menu, double-click at any position on the canvas, or click New on the right side of the Tools and Control bar.
Add Selection
If you want to create several selections or expand the current selections, click Add on the right side of the Tools and Control bar.
Subtract Selection
If you choose more than you want, cut it by Subtract. Choose Subtract on the right side of the Tools and Control bar, click and drag. The area overlapped will be removed.
Intersect Selection
A more complex selection can be realized by performing an intersect operation with the current selection. Choose Intersect on the right side of the Tools and Control bar, click and drag (pressing Shift and Alt for specific shapes). The area overlapped will be kept as a selection.
Move Selection
This tool is to move the selection outline. Find it by clicking Move Selection in Select menu.
Inverse
This tool is to exchange selection and mask.
Copy
Copy selection by clicking Copy in Edit menu, or pressing Ctrl+C. Only selection will be copied.
Cut
Cut selection by clicking Cut in Edit menu, or pressing Ctrl +X. Only selection will be cut.
Paste
Paste selection by clicking Paste in Edit menu, or pressing Ctrl+V. In essence, the paste contents are pasted into a new layer. You can check it in the Layers Panel. Choose this layer and use Arrow to move it freely.
Delete
Delete selection by clicking Delete in Edit menu, or pressing the Del key.
Deselect
Deselect selection by clicking Deselect in Select menu, or double-clicking at any position outside the selection in an image.