where did did transparent go when I move a selection?

[adgorn]

I'm still learning the ropes on PSP 2020 and finding that to be a challenging and time consuming task.

So I create a selection. Then I drag (move) it. I believe that used to reveal the checkerboard transparent canvas. But now it reveals the Background and fill color. I think that is a change in behavior, but not sure if I'm just mixed up?

If I close and reopen my image to start over, then first use the Eraser tool, it does reveal the transparent layer. Then if I use a selection tool and move the selection, it does reveal the transparent layer now.

So I'm confused as to what's going on. Thanks for your pending help!

[migf1]

Hi adgorn!

How do you drag the selection? I assume with the Pick tool. If so, PSP's default behavior is to promote the selection to a new layer automatically. Actually it doesn't let you drag directly, because as soon as you click (for dragging) the selection gets promoted to a new selection, and you have to click again in order to drag. I'm not sure when and if it was different in older versions, but that's how it works since at least version X7.

If you want to drag the marching ants of the selection instead, then you can do it by dragging with the right mouse button (before the promotion takes place). If you want to transform the marching ants themselves, you can enter the selection Edit Mode. Here is a short tutorial about that: https://youtu.be/uBYyPa6kjRA

Lastly, if you operate directly on the background layer of a png image, transparency may not show when erasing if you have not Promoted the Background layer first (if you haven't, you will most probably get whichever color is currently set as your background color, in the materials palette).

[Andy2011]

As migf1 has said, there are lots of variations to moving selections. Another one is:
a) make a selection (on the background layer say) using one of the selection tools, e.g. rectangle, and mode 'add'
b) change the selection mode to 'replace'
c) using the selection tool - the indicator changes to four arrows - drag the selection
e) the selection is moved and a white area remains.

If, before making the selection, you promote the background to a layer (right click on layer palette), a transparent area will remain on moving the selection in (c) above.

Confusing - yes!

[adgorn]

Thanks both.

migf1 - I see how using the Pick tooI promotes the selection. I didn't know about the right mouse button, so thanks for that tidbit.

Andy2011 - your scenario is what I am seeing, with the four arrows. But when drag, it reveals the Background color not the checkerboard transparent "color" taht I beleive I used to see. So I must have changed something to cause that to happen. That's what I am trying to figure out how to fix.

[hartpaul]

In Andy's step e) you will only get the white area if that is the Background color.
If you use one of the selections and have it set to Replace then you will have a 4 sided arrow as your cursor and when you left click and drag to move the selection it will move and leave whatever background color you have selected in your materials palette .

If you first Promote Background Layer then you will get the transparent checkerboard pattern.
If you use any eraser tool then it automatically promotes the Background to a raster allowing transparency.


If you have made your selection and then switch to the Pick tool and left click drag it will make a promoted copy of the selected area and also automatically promote the Background layer to a raster.

If you have made your selection you can right click the layer and promote the selection to a layer and leaving the Background layer intact. You can also drag that Promoted Selection to a blankspot on the canvas and a cropped copy will be made there .
Lots of fun things you can do. Just play around and observe if the layers are Background (no transparency ) or Raster (transparency allowed) .

[adgorn]

I get it now. I wasn't grasping the difference between a Background vs a Raster layer as well as not noticing how the promoting was happening. All of you have been very helpful, Thank You!