Copy and Paste in Photoshop (With Pen Tool Selection)
Copying and pasting precise objects starts with a clean selection. This fast workflow shows how to draw a path with the Pen Tool, convert it to a selection, copy, and paste onto a new document. It’s ideal for isolating and reusing elements from photos.
Step-by-step instructions
1
Make a precise selection with the Pen Tool
Open your source photo (File → Open).
Select the Pen Tool (P) and click to plot points around the object (close the path at the end).
Convert the path to a selection: Ctrl/Cmd+Enter.
2
Copy the selected object
Press Ctrl/Cmd+C to copy the selection to the clipboard.
3
Paste into a new canvas
Create a new document (File → New) or open a target file.
Press Ctrl/Cmd+V to paste the copied object as a new layer.
Use the Move Tool (V) to position the pasted object as needed.
