PSP X6 - Paste Into Selection

[deeteedub]

I'm an original PSP user from the JASC days. I also used Photoshop a lot, but I decided to migrate completely over to PSP X6. One of the tools that I'm having a hard time with is the "paste into selection" tool. I used it a lot in Photoshop very easily: make a selection on a photo; make a selection from a second photo; paste into the selection on the first photo; then resize the pasted selection to my choosing. Easy peasy. When I try to accomplish the same thing with PSP X6, I can't resize or move the pasted into selection without causing the background to be disturbed as if it's selected as well. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Is there a step I'm missing?

Thank you.

[hartpaul]

After making your selection try Selections > Float.
Then do your Paste into Selection.
You should then be able to use the Pick tool to move and resize that floated selection.
Is that what you are after?

[deeteedub]

After making your selection try Selections > Float.
Then do your Paste into Selection.
You should then be able to use the Pick tool to move and resize that floated selection.
Is that what you are after?

Thanks Paul. I tried that and it didn't work. I got the same result. Unless I'm still doing something wrong. This was my sequence:

1. Select an object in Photo #1 using the magic wand tool.
2. Copy the object (Ctrl-C)
3. Selections>Float
4. Select an area to paste into on Photo #2.
5. Edit>Paste Into Selection
6. Use the Pick tool to move and resize the floated selection from Photo #1.

When I do this, as soon as I resize and move the selection, it leaves behind a jagged fragment of the floated selection as if it was merged down.

Thanks for your help!

[LindaSue]

I don't see any mention of you creating a new empty layer in Image #2 in which to paste your selection. It sounds like you're pasting it onto the background layer which will merge it with that layer.

[hartpaul]

OK try this:
1 select the object in Image 1 and copy it to the clip board
2. Make your selection in Image 2.
3. Make a new transparent raster layer which should then be the active layer (so you should have from bottom Image 2 Background, Raster 1 and the selection should be seen on both layers but Raster 1 is the active layer)
4. Edit > Paste into Selection
5. Selections none.
6. Choose the pick tool to move and resize the image.

It would help to see a sample of what you are trying to do.
I tried using the magic wand tool and got into all manner of difficulties because some excess outside pixels were selected as well.
When I use Paste into selection it is because I want to keep the image within some boundaries (eg on a picture cube) and as such I do not want to move the selection or resize the selection , but may want to move, rotate and perhaps warp the copied and pasted image.
This can all be done as well by:
1. make a selection of the image on a promoted background layer.
2. Invert the image and hit the delet key and that will leave all the rest that you don't want as transparent.
3. Drag the layer thumb of that part you want and drop it on your second image where it will appear as a new layer .
4. Use the pick tool to adjust the part you want as you need. Again any excess outside pixels will cause some problems so you need to isolate the part you want properly.

[Zantara]

Sorry..was a bit late.
My suggestions have been explained by others before me.

[deeteedub]

Thanks everybody for being so patient with me. I've grabbed a couple random photos and taken a few screen shots as an example of what I'm trying to do and hopefully I'll figure out how to upload them here correctly so that you can see what I'm doing.

This is what I'm going to call Image #1:



This is what I'm calling Image #2:



Let's say I want to select Lucy and place her in Image #1 behind the dragon. When I used to work with Photoshop, I would use these steps:

1. Use the Magic Wand Tool and click on the white area of Image #2. Then I would select Invert so that Lucy was all that was selected. Then I would copy her to the clipboard.
2. Use the Magic Wand Tool and click on the area above the dragon in Image #2 so that when I paste Lucy here, she'll be placed above and behind the dragon.
3. Now I would hit Paste Into Selection to paste Lucy into the selected area above the dragon.
4. Using the Pick Tool, I would resize and move Lucy to suit my needs.
5. Merge all layers. Done!

In PSP, here's the area I selected above the dragon:



Here's where I used Paste Into Selection:



Here's where I run into trouble. When I use the Pick Tool to resize and move Lucy, I only want Lucy to be affected, but in PSP it leaves an original Lucy in the background as if it was pasted there. Furthermore, the Lucy that does move also brings the background of Image #1 with her:



That's my dilemma. Apparently "Paste Into Selection" does more than just paste. It also seems to merge layers automatically. I don't want it to do that. I want Lucy to be independent. You can understand why Lucy is frowning.

Thanks again for all your patience. It's greatly appreciated!

[LindaSue]

Paste into Selection pastes the item in the clipboard onto the currently active layer. You need to make your selection behind the dragon then create a new raster layer above the dragon layer. Make sure that the new empty layer is the active layer and then do Paste Into Selection.

[deeteedub]

Thanks LindaSue. I tried that and got almost the same thing. Here's what happened:

1. I made my selection behind the dragon where I want to place Lucy. Then I created a new raster layer above the dragon layer and with that as the new active layer, I pasted into selection. Here's the screen shot of that so that you can see the two layers listed:



2. At this point, I chose the Pick Tool so that I could resize Lucy and then move her. When I did that, I noticed that immediately another layer called "Promoted Selection" was created. You can see that here:



3. When I moved Lucy, even though the background didn't move with her, it did leave a copy of her behind:



4. I thought that maybe all I needed to do was turn off the "Promoted Selection" layer. So I did. Then I moved Lucy. And though Lucy moved independently without leaving anything behind, she moved in front of the dragon and the part of her face that was behind the dragon is now missing:



I don't understand why this is so hard...

[hartpaul]

Eureka!!! I have it!! Now let me just find a towel.

1. Magic wand , Promote Image 2 to layer (this allows transparency), select the white part of Image 2 and hit the delete key. You should now have lucy alone. Right click the titl bar and Copy (or Edit > Copy).
2. Magic wand and freehand selection tools in Image 1, select the background around the dragon above it as you have already done. Use the freehand tool to add any missed sections and Remove to remove any sections intruding onto the dragon.
3. Invert the selection so that now the dragon and foreground / bottom is now selected.
4. Selections > Promote Selection to layer. You now have two layers with the dragon on the new layer and the sky part transparent. Selections Select None.
5. Make Image 1 (the Bottom layer active again. Then Right click the title bare and Paste > Paste as new layer. This puts all of Lucy between the background Image 1 and the promoted dragon part.
6. You can now use the Move tool to move Lucy around or the Pick tool to move and make her smaller , larger. Save as a psp file in case you want to do further changes / adjustments later.
7. Layers > Merge > Merge All and there you have your result.

[deeteedub]

WOOHOO!!! Thanks so very much Hartpaul!!! It works!!!

Check it out!



Lucy is smiling now!!!

I want to say thank you to Hartpaul and to everyone who took the time and effort to help me out. And especially for being so patient with me!

THANK YOU!