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Selecting outlined area


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Hi,

I wanted to ask, if there is an easy way in Affinity Photo to select outlined area. In other words, I have an image, where some part is outlined with a thick black line. The part of the image outside and inside this outlined area uses various colors and is not easily selectable. What I am able to do is use the magic wand and with a single click I am able to select the border (the outline) and thus create an enclosed area within that image. Now what I want to do is select the entire area inside this enclosed space. I was trying various things, but I always ended up with just the border/outline of the area selected.

Is there something that would basically mimick "grow selection", but only limit this to the part that is enclosed by the already made selection? 

I also tried the selection brush, but it is very time-consuming and it is not easy to do. The brush is unable to properly detect the outline and selects parts outside of it too.

An example is shown below. I awant to select the area of Germany, I am able to select the black outline, but how do I get Affinity Photo to select the inner area as well. 

Thanks in advance.

DE.jpg

Edited by Jachym
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For example, after doing the initial magic wand based selection, zoom in, switch over to the Selection Brush tool adjust it's size accordingly and Drag the brush over (add) all inner parts to your initial selection. Alt-Drag to subtract parts from the selection. - Afterwards you can also Refine the Selection!

DE2.png.2ef98a31104e7627f028caca79d44262.png

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Im afraid there are areas that will have to be filled manually.

I would start by selecting just the outline with the Flood Select tool (50% tolerance / Contiguous checked).

contour.jpg.931a59116b9a5ce11f17206edda27ecb.jpg

Change to quick mask mode (Press Q) and fill with the Flood Fill Tool (White as foreground / 50% tolerance / Contiguous checked).

Flood.jpg.a78100dc307b23918c7166a1c430edd9.jpg

If you look closely, particularly at the top right, there were areas that were not included. Therefore you have to fill them with the same tool.
Finaly, exit quick mask mode (Press Q) and add a layer mask to your background.

final.jpg.1a181d342400c31d2e0a0b0357044a71.jpg

If there is an area that you can't fill, you can always paint over the mask with white to include those areas.

(Do not confuse "Flood select tool" with "Flood fill tool")

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On 9/3/2022 at 12:30 PM, Jachym said:

Hi,

I wanted to ask, if there is an easy way in Affinity Photo to select outlined area. In other words, I have an image, where some part is outlined with a thick black line. The part of the image outside and inside this outlined area uses various colors and is not easily selectable. What I am able to do is use the magic wand and with a single click I am able to select the border (the outline) and thus create an enclosed area within that image. Now what I want to do is select the entire area inside this enclosed space. I was trying various things, but I always ended up with just the border/outline of the area selected.

Is there something that would basically mimick "grow selection", but only limit this to the part that is enclosed by the already made selection? 

I also tried the selection brush, but it is very time-consuming and it is not easy to do. The brush is unable to properly detect the outline and selects parts outside of it too.

An example is shown below. I awant to select the area of Germany, I am able to select the black outline, but how do I get Affinity Photo to select the inner area as well. 

Thanks in advance.

DE.jpg

For this specific map, I used the following recipe to create the selection:

  1. use blend range, on red channel, to remove coloured areas inside, and leave black lines intact
  2. put a fill layer with white behind
  3. merge visible
  4. add a minimum blur filter, with 1 px radius. This removes inside black lines, but leaves country border intact
  5. merge visible
  6. use fill tool, fill in pure blue colour. some white spots remain
  7. use minimum blur again, set radius to 2px. all except very few white spots get covered
  8. merge visible (or merge down).
  9. manually paint in with brush  2-3 reminding spots
  10. use maximum blur with 1or 2 px 
  11. maybe use gaussian blur 1px
  12. you now have a use blue filled area. Use flood fill tool to convert into selection or mask.

The trick is to emphasise the black 2-3px wide country boarder, and remove all smaller lines and color fills. Then the fill tools can fill in the inside area of that country. Parameters may vary depending on actual map.

 

Useful tools:

  • maximum blur: increases white areas, decreases black areas
  • minimum blur: opposite
  • blend range: filter based on lightness or color
  • fill layer: cover transparent areas in white

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