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How To Copy & Paste In Photoshop

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It is quick and easy to copy and paste in Photoshop. Whether you want to copy and paste selections, layers, layer styles, adjustment layers, or Camera Raw settings, this post has you covered.

The process is simple using the shortcut, but there are a few extra steps to take when pasting a layer or selection into a new project. Keep reading to find out more!


Lesson Summary
Step 1: Click On Select Subject To Create A Selection Around The Contents
Step 2: Copy The Selection Using Control/Command + C
Step 3: Paste The Selection Using Control/Command + V
Step 4: Adjust The Copied Selection Using The Transform Tool
Step 1: Click On Select Subject To Create A Selection Around The Contents
Step 2: Copy The Selection Using Control/Command + C
Step 3: Paste The Selection Using Control/Command + V
Step 4: Adjust The Copied Selection Using The Transform Tool

How To Copy And Paste In Photoshop

Step 1: Click On Select Subject To Create A Selection Around The Contents

You must first make your selection of the area you want to copy using any of the selection tools. A quick one to use is Select Subject found in the Contextual Task Bar.

Note: This process works for any elements you want to copy, including layers, adjustment layers, layer styles, and smart filters.

Step 2: Copy The Selection Using Control/Command + C

Now, you can copy the selection by using the menu path Edit > Copy or using the shortcut Control + C (Win) or Command + C (Mac).

You can also hold in Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) and drag the selection above the original to create a duplicate of the selection or drag the selection over a new tab and drop it onto the canvas when the project opens.

Note: If you want to cut the selection from the image, press Control/Command + X.

Step 3: Paste The Selection Using Control/Command + V

You can now paste the selection into the same project or open a new tab and paste by going to Edit > Paste or pressing Control + V (Win) or Command + V (Mac). The selection will appear as a new layer in your Layers Panel or as a new layer in the new tab.

Step 4: Adjust The Copied Selection Using The Transform Tool

Once you have pasted the selection, you will likely need to adjust the pasted object. The best way to do this is by pressing Control + T (Win) or Command + T (Mac) to open the Transform Tool. You can then scale and move the object as needed.

Step 5: Go To Image > Image Size To Adjust The Image Resolution (Optional)

When moving a selection to a new project, you’ll notice that the selection and the project may have different resolutions. This happens because the pasted selection will keep the same resolution as the project it came from.

Before copying the selection, it may be worthwhile to go to Image > Image Size to change the resolution of the source project to match the destination project.

You can use further steps to blend the images when combining two images in Photoshop.

As you can see, the process to copy and paste in Photoshop is quick and easy. Using the copy-and-paste method will save you time and speed up your overall workflow.

Happy Editing!



Photo of author
I'm a Canadian photographer and photo retoucher turned founder of bwillcreative.com. Around here I help you to decode the mystery of photo editing with no-fluff videos and written guides to help you achieve your creative goals. Outside of shooting photos and my passion for educating, you'll find me mountain biking or on the trails with my dog, Sunny!

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