Selections in Graphics

An object-based graphics document is a collection of individual graphic objects. To select one of these objects, the user clicks the object once, which is then bracketed with "handles." (The user can stretch or shrink the object with the handles.) Figure 10-22 shows the selection handles around graphic objects.

Figure 10-22 Selection in an object-based graphics document

In object-based graphics applications, there are two ways to select more
than one object. A range selection includes every object that falls completely within the dotted rectangle outline that encloses the range as the user
drags the mouse. A discontinuous selection includes only those objects explicitly selected.

A bitmap-based graphics document, in contrast, is a series of pixels--not discrete objects. Selections are shown surrounded by a moving dashed line, which is sometimes called a marquee or marching ants. Figure 10-23 shows a selection marquee.

Figure 10-23 Selection in a bitmap-based graphics document