How Do You Make a New File From a Selection in Photoshop?

You can create a new file from a selection in Photoshop using a copy of the selected area. There are a couple of ways to achieve this:

Methods for Creating a New File from a Selection

Here are the two main methods:

1. Using "Layer Via Copy"

This method copies your selection to a new layer and then easily allows you to move that layer into a brand new document.

1. Make your selection: Use any of Photoshop's selection tools (Lasso, Marquee, Quick Selection, etc.) to select the area you want to turn into a new file.
2. Go to Layer > New > Layer Via Copy: This command (or pressing Ctrl+J / Cmd+J) duplicates the selected portion of your image onto a new layer directly above the current layer.
3. Drag and Drop: Select the newly created layer in the Layers panel and drag it directly onto the Photoshop icon in your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac). This will open a new, blank Photoshop document and, once you release the mouse, your copied selection will be placed as a new layer in that document. Alternatively, you can right-click the layer and choose "Duplicate Layer." In the resulting window, change the "Destination" document to "New."
4. Save the new file: You can now save the new document containing only your selection.

2. Duplicating the Layer to a New Document

This method achieves the same result but utilizes the "Duplicate Layer" option.

1. Make your selection: Same as above, select the area you want to copy.
2. Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer: This opens the Duplicate Layer dialog box.
3. Choose "New" as the Destination Document: In the dialog box, find the "Document" dropdown menu. Select "New" from the options. This will create a new Photoshop document for your copied selection.
4. Click OK: Clicking "OK" will create a new Photoshop document containing only your selected area as a layer.
5. Save the new file: As with the first method, save your new document.

Both methods are effective, allowing you to isolate a portion of an image and save it as a separate file. The "Layer Via Copy" method is often faster because it allows for direct drag-and-drop functionality, while the "Duplicate Layer" method offers explicit document selection.