best way to create a smooth curve as part of a selection

[jimh12345]

I want to create a selection bounded in part by a smooth curve.  I don't need to precisely match something in the image; I'd just like to be able to draw out an area bounded by smooth curves, then make it a selection.

If I google on "make selection from curve" etc.  I'm inundated in various ways to do this.   Most however are overkill for what I need to do, and involve the pen tool, shape tool, and/or selection brush.

In my mind I'd like to do this: draw a polygonal selection roughly covering the area I need, then grab a side of that polygon and "pull" it out into a smooth curve - essentially bowing out a side of the polygon. 

Suggestions on a way to do something like this? 

[Old Bruce]

6 minutes ago, jimh12345 said:

In my mind I'd like to do this: draw a polygonal selection roughly covering the area I need, then grab a side of that polygon and "pull" it out into a smooth curve - essentially bowing out a side of the polygon. 

Suggestions on a way to do something like this? 

Use the Pen tool to draw the polygon. Just click to add a straight portion, don't be Clicking and Dragging. Then use the Node tool to then do the "pulling" of the straight lines into the curves. You can also add more nodes using the node too.

[walt.farrell]

You can do that in Photo.

1. Draw your polygon
2. Layer > Convert to Curves
3. Adjust the curve as you want with the Node Tool
4. Select > Layer from Selection (or Layer from Selection and Delete)

[jimh12345]

4 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

• Draw your polygon
• Layer > Convert to Curves
• Adjust the curve as you want with the Node Tool
• Select > Layer from Selection (or Layer from Selection and Delete)

I draw a polygon with the Pen tool.  I go to the Layer menu - but Convert to Curves is greyed out and disabled. 

[jimh12345]

4 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

Use the Pen tool to draw the polygon. Just click to add a straight portion, don't be Clicking and Dragging. Then use the Node tool to then do the "pulling" of the straight lines into the curves. You can also add more nodes using the node too.

I create a triangle polygon with the Pen tool.  Then I select the Node tool, and get a box with handles around the triangle. But I can't find any way to curve one of the lines.  Pulling on anything just resizes the triangle. 

[Old Bruce]

4 minutes ago, jimh12345 said:

I create a triangle polygon with the Pen tool.  Then I select the Node tool, and get a box with handles around the triangle.

[jimh12345]

Ok I finally found the real Node tool - under the Pen tool.  I'd found a video that (incorrectly?) said to use the Node tool, but showed the Move tool being selected. Pretty confused at that point.... but now, with the Node tool, I'm able to bend the polygon sides.  Then I found that if I go back to the Pen tool, there's a Selection button that converts the polygon into a selection. Now I'm getting somewhere.

 

 

[walt.farrell]

48 minutes ago, jimh12345 said:

I draw a polygon with the Pen tool.  I go to the Layer menu - but Convert to Curves is greyed out and disabled. 

You don't need it if you use the Pen tool, which draws a Curve. You need it if you use the Polygon tool, which draws a Polygon.

[jimh12345]

Thanks guys, I'm making some progress.