7 Tips to Master Samsung Smart Select Feature

Samsung Galaxy phones come with a powerful feature called Smart Select that allows you to select, crop, and annotate image clips without capturing the entire screen. With Smart Select, you can extract text, pin images, create GIFs, and more. In this article, we will explore seven tips to help you use Smart Select on your Samsung Galaxy phone like a pro.

1. Use Smart Select Without S Pen

Smart Select can be accessed in two ways on Samsung Galaxy phones. If your phone supports S Pen, you can open it from the Air Command menu. Simply remove the S Pen or press the button on the S Pen to open the Air Command menu, then tap on Smart Select.

If the pen shows some issues and is not functioning properly, you can fix the S Pen issues by following certain effective steps. If your phone doesn't support S Pen, you can still use Smart Select by adding it to the Edge Panel. The Edge Panel is a sliding panel that can be accessed from the sidebar. To add Smart Select to the Edge Panel, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to Display > Edge panels.
3. Enable the toggle to turn on Edge Panels, then tap on Panels.
4. Look for the Smart Select panel and check the box above it. If you don't find it, tap on the Galaxy Store button and search for the Smart Select panel.

Once you have added Smart Select to the Edge Panel, you can access it by swiping inwards from the Edge Handle and swiping right or left in the panels. Moreover, you can even learn how to make the most of Edge Panels on the Samsung Galaxy phones to upgrade your smartphone experience.

2. Capture Screenshots in Different Shapes

One of the main uses of Smart Select is to capture content in different shapes and sizes. You can clip screenshots in a rectangular shape, oval, or free shape using the Lasso tool. Here's how to do it:

1. Launch the Smart Select feature using S Pen or from the Edge Panel.
2. Tap on the desired shape (rectangle, lasso, or oval) to select it.
3. Drag the S Pen across the content that you want to select, and it will be cropped in the selected shape.

Alternatively, you can open Smart Select from the Edge Panel, tap on Rectangle or Oval shape, and drag the selection box to the area you want to clip. Use the edges to adjust the size of the selection, then tap on Done to capture the clip.

3. Draw on Clips

Smart Select allows you to draw on the clips you have selected. After selecting an area using Smart Select, tap on the Pencil icon in the toolbar to draw on the clip. You can also customize the pen shape, size, and color.

4. Auto Select Content

The auto-select feature in Smart Select suggests what's important in an image and automatically selects that area to crop. You can use this feature to remove backgrounds, crop unwanted items, and extract text from images. To use auto-select:

1. Clip an image using the Smart Select feature with S Pen.
2. Tap on the Auto-select icon in the toolbar.
3. The important area will be selected. To include more areas, drag the S Pen over them. To remove any area from the selection, tap on the minus button in the toolbar and drag the S Pen over the area to deselect it.

5. Extract Text

The Extract Text feature in Smart Select allows you to extract text that appears in selected images. You can use it to extract text from websites or apps that don't allow copying, such as Instagram captions or YouTube comments. To extract text:

1. Clip the image using Smart Select from the Edge Panel or S Pen.
2. Tap on the Text icon in the toolbar or the Extract Text button below the clipped image.
3. The extracted text will appear. You can copy it to the clipboard or share it via apps like email or WhatsApp.

6. Create GIFs

Smart Select also enables you to create GIFs from any video playing on your Samsung Galaxy phone. You can even draw on the GIF. To create a GIF:

1. Open the video you want to create a GIF from.
2. Launch the Smart Select feature from the Air Command menu or Edge Panel.
3. Tap on the Animation (Edge Panel) or GIF (S Pen) buttons to open the GIF selection screen.
4. Use the circular icon in the selection box to drag it over the video preview. Adjust the quality if needed.
5. Play the video and press the Record button to create a GIF.
6. Use the toolbar to draw on the GIF, share it, or save it to your phone.

7. Pin Image to Screen

The Pin to Screen feature in Smart Select allows you to clip an image and pin it to your screen. This is useful for copying numbers, email IDs, addresses, and other information without switching between apps. You can also insert the pinned content into apps that support drag and drop. To pin an image:

1. Open the Smart Select feature and tap on the Pin to screen (Edge Panel) or Pin icon (S Pen).
2. Drag the selection box over the area you want to pin and tap the Pin to screen button.
3. The pinned image will appear in the top-right corner of your screen.
4. Tap on the pinned image to access options such as saving, minimizing, or removing it.
5. You can also drag and drop the pinned image into apps that support this feature.

With these tips, you can now make the most of the Samsung Smart Select feature on your Galaxy phone. Explore its capabilities and enhance your productivity and creativity. Enjoy your Samsung phone!