Polygonal Lasso Tool

[limey]

Hi
I'm in the process of selecting the head and shoulders of a person and got about 2/3 rds of the way around which took me a long time when somehow the end of the line I was working shot across and made connection to the beginning point which ended my selection process. Maybe I clicked too fast or something but it happened and now I'm left with part of a head and shoulders selected.
I've tried working with the plus and minus to try eliminate the line that shot across but I'm not having any luck, maybe it can't be done but that's why I'm posting, hopefully someone can put me straight.
When I try to add or subtract it won't let me intersect the original selection line, I mean I can use a place on the line to anchor my starting point but when i come back to the original selection line at some other point, it's not showing the the little circle indicator that tells me I've completed the selection.
Thanks

[Hoogle]

not to sure on that tool but how about if you click the add to button and swap the tool for magic wand finish of the selection of the head refine edges all though the magic wand is actually quite good as long as it is not a busy background but if you dont like the selection it makes then do the refine edges and asjust it to go a set distantce past where you want it to actually select copy and paste to a new layer then you can just reselect using the poly magnetic tool the half you missed first time round and it should just snap to where you had already cut out before.
just an idea
if it is a complicated selection go to www.topaszlabs.com i think it is and download there 30 day trial of remask 3 by far the most easy way of making complicated selections

[Hoogle]

Topaz ReMask - Masking Made Easy
sorry bad link here you go just type topazlabs remask 3 into youtube to watch a video on how good it is and how easy it is

[Hoogle]

ctrl z and apparently I have to type more to get it posted and I am past thinking now lol

[limey]

Thanks for the link it looks like a cool program, don't think it will work for my situation.

[Hoogle]

just watch the video you will be amazed at what it can do

[jonpeter001]

This tool works best when there is a huge contrast between objects in the foreground of the photo or objects in the background. Simply click near the a high-contrast edge and the lasso tool snuggles right up against the edge as you drag the mouse cursor along the line of contrast.
How it works is, as you drag the mouse photoshop places points of selection about the image. At any time clicking along the edge will place a point. This way you can sort of help Photoshop along with the selection. Sometimes these points placed by Photoshop can get out of hand, pressing Delete - Del will undo misplaced points and you may continue dragging the mouse as Photoshop makes the selection for you.

[limey]

Thanks jonpeter for the pointers, unfortunately this particular photo I'm working on is faded and the lines are difficult to see that was why I was so frustrated after carefully getting 2/3rds of the way around when it decided to complete the selection. It appears that once it completes the selection you only have 2 options, keep the selection and add to it or start again from the beginning.

[hawkeye]

You should learn to use the pen tool.

[siodre]

You should learn to use the pen tool.

ditto.

you probably double clicked and it ended the selection. with the pen tool each point placed in the selection is added in the history so if you double click or really screw up otherwise you can go back using history. you can also move or add points when your done or adjust curves. and the pen tool selection makes a path so you can reuse it for a second or third layer if you want.