Selection

A selection limits painting to a region of the surface — paint only inside (or outside) it. You can also turn a selection into a layer mask.

Selection modes

Pick the Select tool, then choose a mode:

ModeHow it works
Brush (paint-select)Brush the selection onto the surface like paint. Hidden geometry isn't selected.
LassoDrag a freehand outline; the enclosed area is selected.
PolylineClick points to build a straight-edged outline; double-click or Enter to close it, Esc to cancel.
RectangleDrag two opposite corners.

Add, subtract, replace

By default a new selection replaces the old one. Hold a modifier while you select to combine instead:

ActionModifier
Add to selectionShift
Subtract from selectionCtrl
The Select menu holds the rest: All (Ctrl+A), Deselect (Ctrl+D) to clear, Reselect (Ctrl+Shift+D), Invert (Ctrl+Shift+I), and Grow / Shrink / Feather to refine the edge.

Selecting in the 2D view

All four modes work in the 2D UV view too, which can be easier for UV-island-accurate selections. The same Shift / Ctrl modifiers apply, and a selection made in either view shows in both.

Selection → mask

Choose Select › Selection to Mask to turn the current selection into a layer mask on the active layer, so a selection you made once drives where that layer shows. Select › Mask to Selection does the reverse — it loads the active layer's mask back into the selection.