To duplicate a selection in Photoshop, you first need to make the selection you want to copy. Then, you can use the 'Edit > Copy' command and then paste it to the desired location.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
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Make a Selection: Use Photoshop's selection tools (e.g., Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand) to select the area you wish to duplicate.
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Copy the Selection: Go to the menu bar and select Edit > Copy. This copies the pixels within the selected area to your clipboard. As noted in the reference, you can use this to copy a selection from one location on an image to another, or to copy from one image and paste to another.
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Paste the Selection:
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To duplicate the selection within the same image, choose Edit > Paste. A new layer will be created, containing the pasted selection. This gives you a copy of the selected area that is independent from the original pixels.
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To paste the selection into a different image, open the target image, then choose Edit > Paste. A new layer containing the copied selection will be created on the target image.
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Alternative Methods
While the 'Edit > Copy' method works well, here are some other methods to duplicate a selection:
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Using the Move Tool:
- Make your selection.
- Select the Move Tool (V).
- Hold down the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac).
- Click and drag the selection. This creates a duplicate on a new layer as you drag it.
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Using Keyboard Shortcuts:
- You can use Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) for Copy.
- Use Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac) for Paste.
Practical Insights
- When duplicating a selection, the pasted content typically appears on a new layer by default, which can make it easier to manipulate.
- Using the move tool with the Alt/Option key is very efficient for creating multiple copies.
- Duplicated content maintains the original size and properties of the source selection.
By using these methods, you can easily duplicate any selection in Photoshop to achieve various creative and editing goals.
