You can insert an image precisely within a specific area you've selected in Photoshop using the "Paste Into" command.
Pasting an image directly into a defined selection in Photoshop ensures that the pasted content appears only within the boundaries of that selected area. This is achieved using the Paste Into command, which is a powerful feature for masking and compositing.
Using the "Paste Into" Command
The Paste Into command is specifically designed to paste an image or content from your clipboard inside an active selection in your document. The selection acts as an automatic mask for the pasted content.
Here's the typical workflow:
- Copy the Source Image: Open the image or part of an image you want to insert. Select the area you wish to copy (using Cmd+A / Ctrl+A for the whole image, or a selection tool) and copy it to your clipboard (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C).
- Create Your Selection: Switch to the Photoshop document where you want to place the image. Define the area where the image should appear by creating a selection. This selection can be any shape made with tools like the Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, or Quick Selection tools. You will see the "marching ants" outlining your selection.
- Execute Paste Into: With the selection active, go to the Edit menu, then navigate to Paste Special, and choose Paste Into.
A quicker method utilizes the keyboard shortcut:
| Action | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Paste Into | Shift+Ctrl+V | Shift-⌘-V |
What Happens After Pasting Into?
As noted in the reference, when you use Paste Into:
- Photoshop automatically creates a new layer for the pasted image.
- Crucially, it also generates a layer mask linked to this new layer. This layer mask is automatically created based on your active selection. The area you had selected (the "marching ants") becomes the visible portion of the mask (represented as white), while everything outside the selection is hidden (represented as black on the mask).
This process means the pasted image is immediately visible only within the boundaries of your original selection, providing a clean and precise way to insert content into specific areas of your composition. You can then move, scale, or transform the pasted image within the mask area, or refine the mask itself later.
