Add copied duplicated Items to the same Layer?

[Grazie]

I must have done this many times, but for the life of me I’m failing. I’m getting a New item on another Layer. I’m trying to duplicate DOTs. So, how to do this oh so simple process?!

[LeviFiction]

There are several methods depending on the kind of data you're copying. With vector shapes you can scroll open the layer, select the shape, then go Layers -> Duplicate and it'll duplicate the shape object inside the current vector layer.

If you're talking about raster data, like dots you made with a paint brush or on a pattern image, there are a tone of options including dedicated tools. I assume this is what you mean so I'll focus on this way.

Select the area with the dots with one of the selection tools. Then from there you have several options. Here I will describe each method I can think of.

1) Edit -> Copy; Edit -> Paste As New Selection

When you paste as new selection it'll follow your mouse around until you click to place the selection down.

2) Edit -> Copy; Edit -> Paste as New Transparent Selection
If the selection has a solid color background you can use this option to auto-remove the background color from the selection leaving only the items you wanted selected. It uses the Background color on the materials palette to determine what color to remove. It'll also create a floating selection, that you need to de-float before it'll merge down with the other layer.

3) With the selection tool still active hold the ALT key then click and drag the mouse to move the selection. It'll duplicate the selected area as a floating selection which you can then move wherever you want. Then just defloat the selection to accept the new location.

4) With the selection tool active hit Ctrl + F to float the selection, click and drag the selection to move it around the canvas, Ctrl + Shift + F to defloat the selection and merge it down.

5) Pick tool, click and drag the selection it'll create a new layer. Merge the layer down after you're done moving the selection around.

And the last method I can think of

Clone tool
6) Grab the clone tool, resize the brush head to match the size of the area you want to clone. Turn off "Aligned Mode", right-click over the dots you want to copy. Now spot click to add more dots around the canvas. DO NOT BRUSH IN THE DOTS it won't work. You need to just click once to add some quick dots to the screen so that the sample area never moves. And avoid touchign the sample area as it'll overwrite the data there changing the sample.

[Grazie]

There are several methods depending on the kind of data you're copying.

Thank you! Very thorough, PLUS easy to understand.