There's no way to start an elliptical selection at its center?

[Stokestack]

I was trying to create a circular selection from a center point, but no combination of modifier keys caused the circle to expand symmetrically from the starting point. This is a standard option in art programs.

Another problem was that when the selection overflowed the the document window, that side of it was simply cut off (flattened). This is not only undesirable, but profoundly inconsistent with other behavior in the app; for example, crop, which doesn't actually crop but leaves the surrounding image data intact. So if even the canvas edges don't trim image data, why on earth would the viewing window?

In the attached video, I've had to set up guidelines at the sides of the record label (the horizontal one was a guide for manually rotating the image) to address the first problem (can't make the selection emanate from the center). But then the selection isn't round anymore.

Should I file a separate issue about the selection being cut off?

[David in Яuislip]

9 hours ago, Stokestack said:

I was trying to create a circular selection from a center point,

Yep, can't be done but you can create a Circle shape from a point using the <shift><ctrl><alt> keys. Then from the menu Select\ Selection from Layer and Delete

[Stokestack]

Thanks! Shapes are the way to go, pretty much all the way to the end. Transforming the selection after the fact is a no-go in Photo, because the transformation actually degrades the selection marquee's edges! Disappointing.

[telemax]

Why not use the shape for clipping?
This allows you to fine-tune the edges. Clipping.afphoto

Tip:
Don't forget to remove the shape color after clipping.

[Stokestack]

Thanks! I think we all agree that shapes are the way to go.