How to Fill in Photoshop

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to select an area in an image and mask it with a solid color fill in Adobe Photoshop, using a computer.

1

Open the image file you want to edit.

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can do this by launching Photoshop and going to File > Open to select a file.
    • Unless you're opening a file with multiple layers saved in it, this will make the selected image the background layer of your Photoshop canvas.
    2. Advertisement
2

Duplicate the background layer on the Layers panel.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you do this, you don't have to worry about making crucial mistakes and messing up the original image in the background.
    • Right-click the background layer on the Layers panel on the lower-right corner, and select Duplicate Layer here.
    • Alternatively, you can select your background layer on the Layers panel, and press ⌘ Command + J on Mac or Control + J on Windows.
3

Select the Quick Selection tool.

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can find it in the upper-left corner of your screen.
    • You can also just press W on your keyboard to switch to Quick Selection.
    • The Quick Selection tool is grouped with the Magic Wand tool on the toolbar. If you can't find Quick Selection, click and hold Magic Wand to access it.
    • Alternatively, you can use the Marquee Tool to make a selection. It will allow you to select a rectangular or elliptical area in the image.
    2. Advertisement
4

Select the area you want to fill in your image.

PDF download Download Article
  1. As you click each option, you'll see dashed lines around the edges.
    • If you select an area by mistake, you can remove it from your selection by holding Alt and clicking on the area you want to exclude.
    • You can adjust your selection's brush tip size in the upper-left corner of the Photoshop window.
5

Go to the "Edit" tab.

PDF download Download Article
  1. This menu item is next to File on the top-left. It will open a drop-down menu.
    2. Advertisement
6

Click "Fill."

PDF download Download Article
  1. This will open your Fill options in a new pop-up window.
    • If you want to use a keyboard shortcut, press ⇧ Shift + F5 to open and use the Fill tool.
7

Select "Color" from the Contents menu.

PDF download Download Article
  1. This option will allow you to fill the selected area with a solid color fill. It will open the Color Picker window.
    • Alternatively, try other options here like Content Aware and Pattern .
    • Content Aware will fill the selected area with patterns derived from around your selection. It will remove whatever's inside your selection, and replace it with what's in the background.
    • Pattern will allow you to select a custom graphic pattern and fill the selected area with it.
    2. Advertisement
8

Select the color you want to use in your fill.

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can click anywhere on the gradient to choose your color.
9

Click "OK" to fill the area.

PDF download Download Article
  1. This will fill the selected area with the color you've picked.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Import an Image in Photoshop as a New Layer or File
      How to
      Fix "Scratch Disks are Full" Error in Photoshop
      How to
      Trace an Image in Photoshop on Windows or Mac
      3 Ways to Simply Import Fonts to Photoshop
      How to
      Install Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop
      4 Easy Ways to Insert a Bullet Point in Adobe Photoshop
      Quickly Change the Color of Background in Photoshop
      Replace Text in Adobe Photoshop: 2 Simple Methods for Removal
      How to
      Design an ID Card Using Adobe Photoshop
      A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Gradient in Photoshop
      How to
      Add a Hyperlink to a JPEG in Photoshop
      How to
      Make Parts of An Image Transparent in Photoshop
      3 Ways to Invert Image Colors in Adobe Photoshop
      How to
      Create a Glitter Effect in Photoshop
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open an image in Photoshop.
      2. Select an area with the Quick Selection or Marquee tool.
      3. Click Fill on the Edit menu.
      4. Select Color next to Contents, and pick a color.
      5. Click OK to apply the color fill.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 44,517 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement