How to adjust size of rectangle select

[philesq]

If I use the rectangle select tool but want to move one of the sides to make it smaller or larger, how do I drag the select line? If I want to crop an image it's very annoying to have to outline the image exactly because I don't know how to adjust the size. 

[AndrewDavid]

Hi @philesq

Interesting observation.

On the User guide help site https://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/RectangleSelectionTool.html it explains how to select a rectangular area.

What it doesn't explain is that below the "Rectangular Selection Tool" is the "Move Selection Tool".

This tool allows you to move the selection by any of the nubs surrounding the selection to adjust size without moving the image selection.

Let us know if this answers your question.

[Tactilis]

From  https://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/SelectionTools.html

Manipulating Selections

Once a selection has been made, it can be moved, rotated and scaled using the  Move Selection tool.  See Move Tools page for more information.

[NANZ]

On 6/3/2021 at 9:54 PM, AndrewDavid said:

Hi @philesq

Interesting observation.

On the User guide help site https://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/RectangleSelectionTool.html it explains how to select a rectangular area.

What it doesn't explain is that below the "Rectangular Selection Tool" is the "Move Selection Tool".

This tool allows you to move the selection by any of the nubs surrounding the selection to adjust size without moving the image selection.

Let us know if this answers your question.

Hello, brand new user here . . . the page link you provided explains how to make a NEW rectangle, but it does not explain how to SELECT the rectangle made previously. The Rectangle Selection Tool only makes new rectangles.  I'm looking at the linked page and see that is in a section called Documentation, where / how do you get to that? It does not appear to be accessible from the paint.net?  And the Basic Tutorials date from 2008, old stuff in there.    

[MJW]

57 minutes ago, NANZ said:

Hello, brand new user here . . . the page link you provided explains how to make a NEW rectangle, but it does not explain how to SELECT the rectangle made previously.

 

I think that's exactly what AndrewDavid said:

 

On 6/3/2021 at 8:54 PM, AndrewDavid said:

On the User guide help site https://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/RectangleSelectionTool.html it explains how to select a rectangular area.

What it doesn't explain is that below the "Rectangular Selection Tool" is the "Move Selection Tool".

 

[ardneh]

Adjust the size using the Move Selection tool.
 

Edited June 14, 2021 by ardneh

[AndrewDavid]

2 hours ago, NANZ said:

 I'm looking at the linked page and see that is in a section called Documentation, where / how do you get to that? It does not appear to be accessible from the paint.net? 

Hello @NANZ

On the home page look for https://forums.getpaint.net/forum/52-help-files-paintnets-online-documentation/

[NANZ]

1 hour ago, MJW said:

 

I think that's exactly what AndrewDavid said:

 

 

hey, thanks for your quick response! I'll repeat:  that page does NOT explain how to select the previously made rectangle -- even including the refence to the Move Selection Tool. How can one MOVE it before it's been Selected? You can't. I've spent all afternoon on this, still no success. This is so basic I can't believe it's so hard.... someone please help? 

[MJW]

2 hours ago, NANZ said:

How can one MOVE it before it's been Selected? You can't. I've spent all afternoon on this, still no success.

 

Make the rectangular selection. Switch to Move Section tool. Adjust the selection using the nubs that appear on the sides and corners of the selection. Voila!

[ardneh]

Your original question has been answered.
Now we are into new territory, which is okay.

 

It's difficult to give the best advice because we don't know the specifics of the image you are working on.

 

Ideally, if you make a new object (rectangular or not) it would be on its own layer,

making it easy to move with the Move tool.

 

If the area you want to work on is not on its own layer, recreate the selection,

make a new layer, fill the selection using the Paint Bucket.

 

Make that layer not-visible.

 

You can always regain the selection by Magic Wand-ing the saved filled selection.