To cut and paste an image, or a portion of an image, in Photoshop, you'll generally use the copy and paste commands along with selection tools. Here's a breakdown of the process:
Step-by-Step Guide to Copying and Pasting in Photoshop
Here's how to cut and paste an image, or a selection from an image, within Adobe Photoshop, incorporating the Paste Into Selection feature:
- Make a Selection:
- Use any selection tool (e.g., Lasso Tool, Rectangular Marquee Tool, Quick Selection Tool) to select the area you want to copy from your image. This could be a specific part of an image or the entire image.
- Copy the Selection:
- Navigate to the Edit menu.
- Choose the Copy command (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C on Windows or Cmd+C on macOS). This places the selected content onto your clipboard. As referenced, you can copy from other applications as well.
- Select the Destination Area:
- Go to the image where you want to paste the copied content.
- Use a selection tool to define the area where you want the pasted content to appear.
- Paste into Selection:
- Go to the Edit menu.
- Choose Paste Into Selection. This will paste the content copied in step two into the selected area created in step three. The pasted content will conform to the shape and size of the selection.
Important Tips for Pasting in Photoshop
- Layers: When you paste, Photoshop generally creates a new layer for the pasted content. This allows for non-destructive editing.
- Transforming: After pasting, use the Edit > Free Transform option (or Ctrl+T / Cmd+T) to resize, rotate, or otherwise adjust the pasted content.
- Masks: The Paste Into Selection feature creates an automatic mask for the pasted layer, aligning with your initial selection.
- Moving Pasted Content: If you need to move the pasted area within the selection after pasting you will first need to select the 'move tool' from the tool bar, then click and drag within the bounds of the selection.
Example Scenarios
- Pasting a face onto another body: Select the face from one image, copy it, select the head area of another image, and then use Paste Into Selection.
- Adding elements to a composition: Copy various elements from different images, and paste them into your canvas using the techniques outlined above, then transform the pasted elements and adjust their position on the canvas.
By following these steps, you can effectively copy and paste elements within Photoshop, creating various composite images.
