Samsung Smart Select is a powerful tool that lets you capture and customize content on your screen with ease. Whether you want to grab a specific area, create GIFs, or extract text, Smart Select makes these tasks simple and efficient.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Samsung Smart Select effectively to get the most out of your Samsung device. From key features to handy tips, you’ll learn everything you need to enhance your productivity and creativity with this versatile tool.
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Key Features of Samsung Smart Select
Smart Select gives you four main tools for capturing and working with screen content. You can take screenshots in custom shapes, make GIFs from videos, extract text from images, and pin stuff on your screen while you use other apps.
Capturing Custom Screenshots
With Smart Select, you can screenshot in three shapes: rectangle, oval, or free-form with the lasso. No more cropping after the fact.
Rectangle is best for text blocks or menus. Oval works for profile pics or anything round. The lasso is for weird shapes that don't fit the other two.
You can get to these tools from the S Pen's Air Command menu or the Edge Panel. Drag the box over what you want, resize if needed, and tap Done.
It saves as a PNG in your Gallery. You can doodle or highlight stuff before sharing or saving, too.
Creating GIFs Easily
Smart Select can turn any video into an animated GIF, up to 15 seconds. This works with videos in apps, on websites, or in your Gallery.
Open the video, then launch Smart Select and tap Animation (or GIF) from the Edge Panel or Air Command. A selection box will pop up.
Drag the box over the part of the video you want. You can pick high or standard quality for the GIF, depending on file size.
Hit Record while the video plays, then Stop when you're done. GIFs don't include audio. You can add drawings or notes before saving.
Extracting Text from Images
Text extraction lets you grab written content from any image or app screen. Super useful for things like Instagram captions or screenshots of documents.
Select the area with rectangle, oval, or lasso. Tap the T icon or Extract Text button.
Your phone scans the selection and pulls out all the text it finds. You can copy everything or just certain words or lines.
This works for phone numbers, addresses, URLs, and even foreign languages. The copied text goes right to your clipboard.
Pinning Selected Content to Screen
Pin to Screen keeps your selected bit visible while you use other apps. No more flipping back and forth just to check something.
Select your content and tap Pin to Screen from Edge Panel or Air Command. Your pinned bit shows up in the corner and stays there as you open other apps.
You can drag it around to reposition. Tap the pinned item to minimize, save, or remove it. In some apps, like Gmail, you can even drag the pinned image straight into a message.
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Tips and Tricks for Using Samsung Smart Select Effectively
You'll get the most out of Smart Select if you know some S Pen tricks, use it with other Samsung features, keep your stuff organized, and know how to fix little issues that pop up.
Using Smart Select with the S Pen
The S Pen gives you more control than your finger. Pop it out or press the button to open Air Command, then tap Smart Select.
Choose the right tool:
- Rectangle: For text and boxes
- Oval: For circles and round things
- Lasso: For odd shapes
Hold the S Pen like a regular pen, close to the screen but not too hard. Go slow for better accuracy.
Auto-select can speed things up. After picking your area, tap the auto-select icon and let your phone try to find the important part.
If you want to tweak your selection, drag the S Pen over parts to add or use the minus button to remove bits. The S Pen just feels better for detailed work.
Combining Smart Select with Other Samsung Features
Smart Select plays nicely with other Samsung tools. You can drop clipped content right into Samsung Notes, for example.
Pin content while multitasking. Just select and tap "Pin to screen." The snippet stays visible while you swap apps, which is great for copying details like phone numbers.
Drag pinned content into supported apps, like Gmail or Samsung Notes. It saves a bunch of steps.
For presentations, use Smart Select with Samsung DeX. You can clip exactly what you need for slides or documents.
Clipped content also goes to your clipboard, so it's easy to paste somewhere else later.
Share content quickly. After you select, just hit the share button and send it through WhatsApp, email, or social media.
Saving and Sharing Your Selections
Clips save in different formats. Images are PNGs with clear backgrounds, so they're easy to drop into other stuff.
Stay organized:
- Find all your clips in the Gallery app
- Look for the "Smart Select" album
- Give your clips names right after saving
Share options pop up after every selection:
- Direct share to contacts
- Copy to clipboard
- Send with messaging apps
- Upload to cloud storage
GIFs are bigger files than images, but they're great for showing quick demos or reactions. Text you extract just copies to your clipboard, so you can paste it anywhere.
Before sharing, use the annotation tools to draw arrows or highlight stuff. It makes your point clearer.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Smart Select not working? Make sure Edge Panels are on. Go to Settings > Display > Edge panels and flip the switch.
If text extraction is grayed out, update your S Pen software. Head to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > About S Pen features > Samsung Capture. Uninstall and reinstall updates if needed.
Can't move the selection box? Close Smart Select and open it again from Air Command or Edge Panel.
Poor GIF quality? Tap "High Quality" before you start recording the GIF.
Smart Select only pins one thing at a time. You'll need to remove the current pin before adding another.
App crashing during selection? Clear the Smart Select cache: Settings > Apps > Smart Select > Storage > Clear Cache.
If Smart Select feels slow, close some other apps. It needs a bit of memory to run smoothly.
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Conclusion: Samsung Smart Select
Samsung Smart Select is a versatile tool that makes capturing and customizing screen content simple and efficient. Whether you’re saving important information, creating GIFs, or extracting text, it enhances your productivity and creativity on Samsung devices.
By mastering Smart Select, you can streamline your daily tasks and make the most of your device’s features. Ready to explore more about tablets? Check out our guide on iPad vs Samsung Tablet: Which One Should You Choose to find the perfect device for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Samsung Smart Select
What does Smart Select do on Samsung?
Smart Select is a feature on Samsung devices that allows you to capture specific areas of your screen using various shapes like rectangles, ovals, or freehand lasso. On Galaxy Note phones and tablets, you typically use the S Pen to activate it, while other Samsung phones can access it via the Edge Panel. Once you've made your selection, it's saved as an image that you can then edit, share, or simply keep for later.
What does Smart Select enable you to do?
Smart Select offers several versatile functions. You can capture long web pages or documents as a single scrolling image, making it easy to save entire articles. It also lets you create GIFs up to 15 seconds from videos or animations playing on your screen. Furthermore, it can extract text directly from images, which is incredibly useful for copying information. Before saving or sharing, you also have the option to draw or add notes directly onto your captured selection.
How to use the Smart Select tool?
To use the Smart Select tool, if you have an S Pen, simply open the Air Command menu and select Smart Select. On other Samsung devices, you'll typically tap the Smart Select icon on your Edge Panel. Once activated, you can choose your desired capture shape (rectangle, oval, or lasso) and then drag to select the area of your screen you want to capture. From the selection screen, you can then choose to save the image, draw notes on it, or share it directly.
What would Smart Select be useful for?
Smart Select has many practical applications. Students can use it to quickly save key sections of online articles or textbooks without needing to capture entire pages. Social media users can create personalized GIFs from video clips. Shoppers can neatly save product details, specifications, or reviews from websites. Lastly, business users can benefit from its ability to quickly extract text from documents, presentations, or photos, streamlining information gathering.
