Duplicating a selection question

D
Posted By
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
Views
991
Replies
30
Status
Closed
Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?

For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.

Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

Thanks

Mike

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

V
Voivod
Jul 13, 2004
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.
I
Ian
Jul 13, 2004
"Voivod" wrote in message
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

or

Ctrl + Alt = duplicate

Ian
L
Larry
Jul 13, 2004
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
Re-read the question. I want to copy the selection, not the image data being selected. I want to duplicate the selected circle and have two selected circles.

"Voivod" wrote in message
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.
I
Ian
Jul 13, 2004
"MArtin Chiselwitt" wrote in message
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…

Well you could –

Switch to channels > Make your selection > Click save selection as channel > Make sure the RGB and Alpha 1 channels are visible > Ctrl + move the selection > Ctrl + click the Alpha 1 channel > click back on Layer.

Ian
BH
Bob Hatch
Jul 13, 2004
"MArtin Chiselwitt" wrote in message
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.

Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…

Yes, it works. If you make the selection with the selection tool then press CTRL C then CTRL V it makes a new layer of the selected area. You then select the move tool and put that layer where you want it.

You can also right mouse click and select Layer via Copy


"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
But that wasn’t the question! I want to copy the selection marquee and move that to a different area, not image data.

"Bob Hatch" wrote in message
"MArtin Chiselwitt" wrote in message
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.

Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…

Yes, it works. If you make the selection with the selection tool then
press
CTRL C then CTRL V it makes a new layer of the selected area. You then select the move tool and put that layer where you want it.
You can also right mouse click and select Layer via Copy


"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com

D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
"Ian" wrote in message
Well you could –

Switch to channels > Make your selection > Click save selection as channel
Make sure the RGB and Alpha 1 channels are visible > Ctrl + move the selection > Ctrl + click the Alpha 1 channel > click back on Layer.
Ian

Yes this is a slight improvement on what I do, but still, very many steps. There must be an easier way that doesn’t involve the creation of channels.

Thanks for the effort,

Mike
N
nomail
Jul 13, 2004
Demolisher wrote:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

If I understand you correctly, you want to duplicate the ‘marching ants’ themselves, not the pixels they select? If you hold the shift key, you can make another selection without the first one getting lost. That way you can select both eyes at once.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
DT
Deco_time
Jul 13, 2004
In news:Demolisher typed:
Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.

Use the pen or shape tool to draw your first selection (depress "create new work path" in the task bar). When done, press CTRL C followed by CTRL V, move the copied shape to the other location, right click and choose "Make Selection…" from the drop down menu.


www.odysea.ca
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
"Johan W. Elzenga" wrote in message
Demolisher wrote:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

If I understand you correctly, you want to duplicate the ‘marching ants’ themselves, not the pixels they select? If you hold the shift key, you can make another selection without the first one getting lost. That way you can select both eyes at once.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/

Yes, I want to copy the selection itself. No, I do not want to add to the selection, since the next time I select, manually, I can make a selection that is not exactly the same as the first. The idea is to create an identical copy of the existing selection without chance of human error.
R
RicSeyler
Jul 13, 2004
"save selection" would do it and reload selection. But that’s not a nice as a key combo would be.

Demolisher wrote:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it with white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to get marquees around both eyes.

Thanks

Mike


Ric Seyler
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
"Deco_time" wrote in message
In news:Demolisher typed:
Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye. Then I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.

Use the pen or shape tool to draw your first selection (depress "create new work path" in the task bar). When done, press CTRL C followed by CTRL V, move the copied shape to the other location, right click and choose "Make Selection…" from the drop down menu.

Unfortunatelly, this is even more work than using a channel to do this, at least in my opinion. I am looking for a shortcut.

Mike
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
It seems many people were confused with what I am trying to do, so let me rephrase.

– Using the circular/elliptical marquee I select a circle or ellipse. – Now, with any selection tool in use, I can move the marquee around by clicking within the selected circle/ellipse and dragging the marquee to a different location.
– I want to move the marquee as described in the previous step to a new location
– However, I also want the original marquee to remain, so in the end I have two circular or elliptic marquees

Mike
D
Demolisher
Jul 13, 2004
"RicSeyler" wrote in message
"save selection" would do it and reload selection. But that’s not a nice as a key combo would be.

Would reloading overwrite the current selection?
DT
Deco_time
Jul 13, 2004
In news:MArtin Chiselwitt typed:
I have a feeling, after having played in Photoshop for a while this afternoon, that this cannot be done. It seems it is not possible to copy an ’empty selection’ in Photoshop. So, you have to go with one of the more contrived routes suggested in earlier posts. Actually, the paths idea is not so much hard work and seems to me the easier of the options that have been suggested so far.
Good Luck….

Years ago, I realized that this could not be done using the regular marquee tools, although that might have changed on PS latest version (I’m a bit behind by a few version numbers); That’s when I started using path tools to make selections and found how incredibly versatile they were compared to marquee, so much so that I don’t even use marquee anymore save of the magnetic one and that’s rare. The only extra step is the right click to get to the selection dialog, but since a feather often as to be specified I don’t even consider it an extra step. I’m surprised the op doesn’t like this.


www.odysea.ca
L
Larry
Jul 13, 2004
Demolisher wrote:
It seems many people were confused with what I am trying to do, so let me rephrase.

– Using the circular/elliptical marquee I select a circle or ellipse. – Now, with any selection tool in use, I can move the marquee around by clicking within the selected circle/ellipse and dragging the marquee to a different location.
– I want to move the marquee as described in the previous step to a new location
– However, I also want the original marquee to remain, so in the end I have two circular or elliptic marquees

Mike
I have a feeling, after having played in Photoshop for a while this afternoon, that this cannot be done. It seems it is not possible to copy an ’empty selection’ in Photoshop. So, you have to go with one of the more contrived routes suggested in earlier posts. Actually, the paths idea is not so much hard work and seems to me the easier of the options that have been suggested so far.
Good Luck….
N
nomail
Jul 13, 2004
Demolisher wrote:

Yes, I want to copy the selection itself. No, I do not want to add to the selection, since the next time I select, manually, I can make a selection that is not exactly the same as the first. The idea is to create an identical copy of the existing selection without chance of human error.

In that case "Save selection" is the way to go.
1. Make the first selection.
2. Choose ‘Save selection" and give it a name.
3. Move the marching ants to the second location.
4. Choose "Load Selection" and select "Add to selection". Now you have two identical selected areas.


Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/
TT
Tom Thomas
Jul 13, 2004
"Demolisher" wrote:

"RicSeyler" wrote in message
"save selection" would do it and reload selection. But that’s not a nice as a key combo would be.

Would reloading overwrite the current selection?
No, not if you select "Add to Selection" from the dialog box when you load the saved selection. Ric’s solution is the easiest. ——————————-
Tom

Unsolicited advertisements cheerfully ignored.
N
noone
Jul 13, 2004
In article <unTIc.363$ says…
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does this for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye and fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…

Make the first Selection. Click QuickMask. Load Selection>QuickMask, and then using one of the allowable Tools (Magic Wand will work), drag the now active Selection into place, and hit Delete key. This will delete that area of the moved Selection in QM. Change out of QM and Save>Selection.

Maybe some other variations that would be quicker, but they don’t come to my mind right now.

Hunt
N
noone
Jul 13, 2004
In article <fiXIc.584$ says…
Demolisher wrote:
It seems many people were confused with what I am trying to do, so let me rephrase.

– Using the circular/elliptical marquee I select a circle or ellipse. – Now, with any selection tool in use, I can move the marquee around by clicking within the selected circle/ellipse and dragging the marquee to a different location.
– I want to move the marquee as described in the previous step to a new location
– However, I also want the original marquee to remain, so in the end I have two circular or elliptic marquees

Mike
I have a feeling, after having played in Photoshop for a while this afternoon, that this cannot be done. It seems it is not possible to copy an ’empty selection’ in Photoshop. So, you have to go with one of the more contrived routes suggested in earlier posts. Actually, the paths idea is not so much hard work and seems to me the easier of the options that have been suggested so far.
Good Luck….

Once the Selection is Saved, it can then be copied using the assigned Alpha Channel. When loaded, this Alpha Channel is the Selection.

Hunt
V
V1nc3nt
Jul 13, 2004
"Johan W. Elzenga" wrote in message
Demolisher wrote:

Yes, I want to copy the selection itself. No, I do not want to add to
the
selection, since the next time I select, manually, I can make a
selection
that is not exactly the same as the first. The idea is to create an identical copy of the existing selection without chance of human error.

In that case "Save selection" is the way to go.
1. Make the first selection.
2. Choose ‘Save selection" and give it a name.
3. Move the marching ants to the second location.
4. Choose "Load Selection" and select "Add to selection". Now you have two identical selected areas.
And we have a winner
BH
Bob Hatch
Jul 13, 2004
"Demolisher" wrote in message
It seems many people were confused with what I am trying to do, so let me rephrase.

– Using the circular/elliptical marquee I select a circle or ellipse. – Now, with any selection tool in use, I can move the marquee around by clicking within the selected circle/ellipse and dragging the marquee to a different location.
– I want to move the marquee as described in the previous step to a new location
– However, I also want the original marquee to remain, so in the end I have two circular or elliptic marquees

Mike

Why, what is the purpose? There may be additional ways to do the job without duplicating the selection.

"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com
E
edjh
Jul 13, 2004
Deco_time wrote:

In news:MArtin Chiselwitt typed:

I have a feeling, after having played in Photoshop for a while this afternoon, that this cannot be done. It seems it is not possible to copy an ’empty selection’ in Photoshop. So, you have to go with one of the more contrived routes suggested in earlier posts. Actually, the paths idea is not so much hard work and seems to me the easier of the options that have been suggested so far.
Good Luck….

Years ago, I realized that this could not be done using the regular marquee tools, although that might have changed on PS latest version (I’m a bit behind by a few version numbers); That’s when I started using path tools to make selections and found how incredibly versatile they were compared to marquee, so much so that I don’t even use marquee anymore save of the magnetic one and that’s rare. The only extra step is the right click to get to the selection dialog, but since a feather often as to be specified I don’t even consider it an extra step. I’m surprised the op doesn’t like this.
I agree that using Paths is the easiest and it can be easier still. Just make your Path (or use the Shape tool set to Paths option) and Ctrl-Alt drag it just as though it were a pixel object. It will duplicate. Then Ctrl-Enter to turn the paths into a selection.


Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html
V
V1nc3nt
Jul 13, 2004
"Hunt" wrote in message
In article <unTIc.363$ says…
Voivod wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel
to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Am i right in thinking he wants to know how to duplicate the selection ONLY? You’re way would mean he copys the image data as well. As far as I know, you cannot copy an ’empty’ selection.
I would be interested to know if anyone does know the answer to this…

Make the first Selection. Click QuickMask. Load Selection>QuickMask, and
then
using one of the allowable Tools (Magic Wand will work), drag the now
active
Selection into place, and hit Delete key. This will delete that area of
the
moved Selection in QM. Change out of QM and Save>Selection.
Maybe some other variations that would be quicker, but they don’t come to
my
mind right now.

Hunt

See what Johan Elzenga wrote. Very easy.
V
V1nc3nt
Jul 13, 2004
"Bob Hatch" wrote in message
"Demolisher" wrote in message
It seems many people were confused with what I am trying to do, so let me rephrase.

– Using the circular/elliptical marquee I select a circle or ellipse. – Now, with any selection tool in use, I can move the marquee around by clicking within the selected circle/ellipse and dragging the marquee to a different location.
– I want to move the marquee as described in the previous step to a new location
– However, I also want the original marquee to remain, so in the end I have two circular or elliptic marquees

Mike

Why, what is the purpose? There may be additional ways to do the job
without
duplicating the selection.

"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com

I don’t think Why is interesting anymore. It’s How. 🙂
W
wnor
Jul 13, 2004
You can move a selection by choosing one of the selection tools. Say you make a selection with the lasso tool, if you change to the rectangular marquee tool and hold the cursor over the selection it will allow you to move the selection. (The cursor changes into a small arrow tip with a small sample of the selection) If you start out with the rectangular marquee tool or the magic wand tool to make the selection, then just hold the cursor over the selection and it will allow you to move the selection.

"Demolisher" …
"RicSeyler" wrote in message
"save selection" would do it and reload selection. But that’s not a nice as a key combo would be.

Would reloading overwrite the current selection?
L
Larry
Jul 14, 2004
I don’t think Why is interesting anymore. It’s How. 🙂

Very true! And , the solution seems to be very much a matter of taste. There are many reasons why I use the path method. And, personally, I find that i can get to the goal of making my selections much quicker than if I used ‘Save selection’ that ‘Hunt’ espouses… But, as I say, it’s a matter of taste and the workflow you are happy with. 🙂
DT
Deco_time
Jul 14, 2004
In news:edjh typed:
I agree that using Paths is the easiest and it can be easier still. Just make your Path (or use the Shape tool set to Paths option) and Ctrl-Alt drag it just as though it were a pixel object. It will duplicate. Then Ctrl-Enter to turn the paths into a selection.

That is fast, I like it.
Thank’s.


www.odysea.ca
TW
The Windowvole
Jul 14, 2004
"Voivod" wrote in message
On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:55:43 -0500, "Demolisher" scribbled:

Is there any easy way to duplicate a selection in Photoshop CS?
For example, I use the circular marquee to select the iris of one eye.
Then
I want to drag and copy the selection (similar to how the alt key does
this
for image data when using the move tool) to the other eye.
Currently the only way I can do this is to create a channel and fill it
with
white for the first selection. Then move the selection to the other eye
and
fill that with white in the new channel. Then select from the channel to
get
marquees around both eyes.

CTRL – C
CTRL – V

Simple cut and paste, try reading the manual.

Duh! Try to understand the question before you reply – or not – you’re an ignorant irrelevance anyway…

Kleeeee

How to Improve Photoshop Performance

Learn how to optimize Photoshop for maximum speed, troubleshoot common issues, and keep your projects organized so that you can work faster than ever before!

Related Discussion Topics

Nice and short text about related topics in discussion sections