Is there an easy way to copy a selection?

VS
Posted By
Vernon_Stevens
Jan 15, 2004
Views
500
Replies
12
Status
Closed
Not the contents of a selection, but the selection itself. In other words, if I want to put several of the same size selection circles on a layer, is there a way to draw the first one, and then copy it and say drag and drop it several other places on the same layer. I know you can save a selection, but there seems to me that there would be an easier way to just create multiple copies of the same selection more easily.

Thanks in advance!

VES

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D
d._wade_thompson
Jan 15, 2004
If you are using a circle or a rectangle selection you can change the style to fixed size and that will give you the same size selection every time.

wade
MK
Monte_Krause
Jan 15, 2004
Yes, you can easily duplicate the dimensions of a circular selection using the "Marquee Tool (M)". Choose the "Style:" of marquee as "fixed size".
Does that answer your question?

Monte Krause, Art & Design, 8031 Nimrod Trail, Dallas, Texas 75238.3356, 214.349.2672, >
MM
Mick_Murphy
Jan 15, 2004
Or use the shape tool to create a circle, alt-click with the path selection tool to make copies and then make them into selections.
VS
Vernon_Stevens
Jan 15, 2004
Yes, that does help at least some. But if the selection I need to duplicate is an unusual shape, do you know any method for quick easy duplication? I suppose if nothing else, I would have to resort to the save / load selection process. If there isn’t an easier way to do this, I hope Adobe would consider making a Selection Shape Duplication command or something.

Thanks for the other input though, that does help quite a bit!!!

VES
MM
Mick_Murphy
Jan 15, 2004
You can either create any shape as a path initially or turn it into a path and then easily duplicate it as above.
VS
Vernon_Stevens
Jan 15, 2004
Thanks Mick, I think that is the best solution for unusual shapes.

VES
PC
Philo_Calhoun
Jan 15, 2004
The other trick you might try: make the selection and save it. Go to the channel menu and go to the saved selection channel. Use the wand to select your selection. Go to the move tool, but hold down alt and copy as much as you want. You can now select this channel and it will have the copied selections.
MM
Mick_Murphy
Jan 15, 2004
You can even define it as a custom shape and give it dimensions in the Custom Shape tool options bar. I’ve just learnt this from you asking the question. It’s great.
MM
Mick_Murphy
Jan 16, 2004
That’s a neat trick Philo. I’ll stick that away for the future.
VS
Vernon_Stevens
Jan 16, 2004
Thanks Philo! I appreciate the rapid responses I got to this question!

VES
JS
John_Slate
Jan 16, 2004
….and from the cat-skinning department:

Make your 1st selection.

Enter Quickmask mode.

Marquis around the shape.

Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V.

Use move tool to move the duplicate shape to the next position.

Ctrl-V again, use move tool again.

Repeat as needed.

Exit Quickmask.
RK
Ronald_Keller
Jan 16, 2004
Vernon,

I am wondering why you don’t like saving the selection? It’s just one click in the channels palette. And one Ctrl-click to put a copy of that selection anywhere you want. Furthermore the selection is saved with the document so it’s reusable. And you can drag the channel (selection) from one document to another…

Ronald

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– 12 scenes

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