Unable to successfully select an image to paste as new layer

[johnhenry88D]

With the aid of the selection tools, I am attempting to copy an image from one file, a jpg, and paste it onto another file as a new layer. I have tried both the auto selector and smart selector brush tools. The auto selector tool does not cleanly "snap" around the image borders as expected, and seems to randomly ignore the border. The smart selector brush tool behaves in a similar manner, no matter how I configure the size and tolerance parameters. I am a brand new user of Paintshop Pro 2022, and have watched numerous tutorial videos and tried to find answers in the Corel user manual that I downloaded. I suspect part of my difficulty is not being savvy in Paintshop-ese. Are these tools sensitive to file type or work differently with raster vs vector? Any insight pointing me to a helpful resource would be much appreciated. I have attached a copy of the image I have been attempting to "select".

[LeviFiction]

Sorry I need to clarify something. What part of the image are you trying to select? Or are you literally talking about the entire image white background included? If it's the entire image, you don't need to select anything. Just Copy and Paste. You can also drag and drop between layers palettes if you want to go that direction. Or just drag a file from Windows Explorer onto the layers palette to open it as a new layer.

If you're only talking about the wavy flag bit yeah I can see why PSP might have trouble auto-selecting the area. The best result I could get was using the magic wand tool, set the mode to Brightness (colorwise the gray and white are almost identical) and set tolerance to 1. Contiguous checkbox selected (so it only finds the areas connected to each other). And click in the backgorund area. It fits pretty well to the flag. Then Selections-> Invert. And copy.

You can see the results of this below.

I would like to add that this is not a vector image, or at least you shared only a jpg file. But selection is only for raster images and layers, it doesn't work differently based on file format, but on the type of layer created from the file type. PSP doesn't import many vector types so most things are raster only. Vectors in PSP don't use the selection tools at all, you select entire shapes using the pick or pen tools or entire layers but none of the selection tools.

[Jean-Luc]

If you want this, set the skull layer blend mode to Multiply.

If you want this:

Remove the white color outside the skull using the Background Eraser tool.
Vary the Sharpness value.
Red is my transparency color for a better view.
Set the transparency color in Preferences/General Program Preferences/Transparency and shading.

[johnhenry88D]

To LeviFiction - thanks for your reply. To clarify, I am attempting to select just the image, without the wavy background. I readily admit to not knowing much of anything about when selection tools can be utilized. However, I am able to select part of an image in another jpg file, where the desired portion is yellow and the background is green, using the smart selection brush with default settings. You mention pick or pen tools - can they be employed when the image has such an irregular shape?
To Jean-Luc - thank you as well for your reply. I will try your advice to use the background eraser tool. Over the weekend I received a copy of the book The PaintShop Pro Cookbook, and enjoyed it very much. Would you be the author?

[LeviFiction]

Again, pen tool is for vectors. This isn't a vector. This is a raster image. JPEG only stores raster images.

So doing what you want, the fastest method I can come up with is almost identical to my previous suggestion. Only the tolerance is different. Again using the Mgaic Wand tool. Set to Brightness Match Mode. Tolerance of 32. Contiguous selected. Feather set to 0 or 1 at most. Click on the white background and invert the selection.

You can see the result of that below. And here is a video demonstration (no audio)

[Jean-Luc]

Would you be the author?

Yes, I am.

[johnhenry88D]

To LeviFiction - thanks for the clarification, explanation of rasters and vectors, and the tip for using the Magic Wand tool.

To Jean-Luc - the background eraser tool worked great - thanks for the tip. Your book is fun to read - I like your use of wit and style.