Contract or Expand Selection

Contract or Expand Selection

Script for Adobe Photoshop

Description

The Contract or Expand Selection script for Adobe Photoshop provides an intuitive way to adjust active selections by expanding or contracting their boundaries dynamically. Users can fine-tune their selection using a slider, input field, and quick adjustment buttons, ensuring precise control over selection modifications.

 

This script is particularly useful for:

  • Refining selections in image retouching and compositing.
  • Adjusting selections to match edges more accurately.
  • Quickly expanding or contracting selections with pixel-perfect control.

Install and Run the Script

  • Place the script file in your Adobe Photoshop Scripts folder:

    MacOS:/Applications/Adobe Photoshop [Your Version]/Presets/Scripts/
    Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Your Version]\Presets\Scripts\

  • Restart Adobe Photoshop to load the script into the File > Scripts menu.
  • Open your document and go to File > Scripts > Contract or Expand Selection to launch the script.
  • After running the script, a dialog window will appear with the following controls:

 


➊ Help Button

A small button labeled with '?' sign.

  • Opens the online user guide in a web browser.
  • Click this button to access documentation and instructions.


➋ Contract Selection Button

A button with a '-' minus-like symbol.

  • Contracts the active selection by 1 pixel.
  • Click to shrink the selection by 1px at a time.


➌ Selection Adjustment Slider

A horizontal slider ranging from -100 to 100px.

  • Click and drag the slider handle to modify the selection boundary.
  • Adjusts selection dynamically in real-time.
  • Drag Left: Contracts the selection.
  • Drag Right: Expands the selection.


➍ Expand Selection Button

A button with a '+' plus-like symbol.

  • Expands the active selection by 1 pixel.
  • Click to grow the selection by 1px at a time.


➎ Input Field

A small text box displaying the current pixel value.

  • Allows users to manually input a specific pixel value for selection adjustments.
  • Enter a number to adjust selection size.
  • Can be used with up or down arrow keys for fine-tuning.


➏ Cancel Button

Restores the original selection before any modifications.

  • Click this button to undo all changes and close the dialog.
  • If the selection was modified, it will revert to its original state.


➐ Apply Button

Finalizes the selection modification and closes the dialog.

  • Click this button to keep the expanded or contracted selection.
  • Once applied, the change cannot be undone via the script.


☻ Conclusion

The Contract or Expand Selection script for Photoshop provides a fast, precise, and intuitive way to modify active selections. With handy buttons, a real-time slider, and manual input, users can fine-tune their selections effortlessly.

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Contract or Expand Selection

Version: 1.0.0

Updated:

    • 1.0.0 – Initial release.

    Tested on MacOS:

    • Adobe Photoshop 2025 (26.0)
  • Supported Versions:

    • Compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS6 and later, including Adobe Photoshop CC versions.

    Operating Systems:

    • Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.
  • End User License Agreement (EULA)

    Last Updated: 21.12.2024

    This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

    1. Grant of License

    Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.

    • Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
    • Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.

    2. Usage Rights

    You are permitted to:

    • Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
    • Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.

    3. Restrictions

    You may NOT:

    • Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
    • Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
    • Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
    • Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
    • Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.

    4. Ownership

    The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.

    5. Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

    6. Limitation of Liability

    To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.

    7. Termination

    This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.

    8. Updates and Support

    Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.

    9. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

    10. Entire Agreement

    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.

    By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.

    For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

Required Software

Adobe Photoshop

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Adobe Photoshop is a leading image editing and graphic design software developed by Adobe Inc. Renowned for its versatility, Photoshop is used by photographers, designers, and digital artists for tasks ranging from photo retouching and compositing to digital painting and creating web graphics. Its robust set of tools includes advanced layering, masking, and blending options, as well as powerful filters, adjustments, and AI-driven features like content-aware fill. Photoshop supports both raster and vector workflows, making it ideal for a wide range of creative projects, including print, web, and multimedia design. As part of Adobe Creative Cloud, it integrates seamlessly with other Adobe apps.

  • 🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder

    To install a Contract or Expand Selection.jsx script in Adobe Photoshop, you need to place it in the correct directory where Photoshop
can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:

    1. MacOS:
      Open Finder and navigate to:
      /Applications/Adobe Photoshop [Version]/Presets/Scripts/
    2. Windows:
      Open File Explorer and navigate to:
      C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version]\Presets\Scripts\
    3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Photoshop version (e.g., 2025).
    4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).

    🅱 Installing the Script

    1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Contract or Expand Selection.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
    2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
    3. Restart Adobe PhotoshopTo refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Photoshop.

    Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Photoshop scripts.

    1. Open Adobe Photoshop and ensure a document is active.
    2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
    3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
    4. Click the Contract or Expand Selection script to run it.
    5. The Contract or Expand Selection script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.

    ☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

Got questions?

Need help or have an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, found a bug, have a feature request, or just want to share your feedback, reach out to us—we’re here for you! 

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