Copy selection to new image

[PLShutterbug]

Using Affinity Photo 2.3.

Hi, I can't figure out how to copy a selection in an image, then paste it into a new image, or create a new image with just the selection.

I've used a combination of the Flood Select and Selection Brush tools to create a selection.

I've tried simply pressing Ctrl-C to copy the selection and then pasting into a new document I've created, like I can do with other Windows applications. What gets pasted into the new document is the entire original image, not just the selection.

What am I doing wrong, and how can I end up with what I want?

Thanks.

[walt.farrell]

Sounds like you are trying to copy from an Image layer, rather than a Pixel layer. You'll need to either Rasterize the layer before doing the Copy, or (if available) you could try Copy Merged or Copy Flattened instead of Copy.

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Sounds like you are trying to copy from an Image layer...

See https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/layerImage.html for more about this special type of container layer.

[PLShutterbug]

21 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Sounds like you are trying to copy from an Image layer, rather than a Pixel layer. You'll need to either Rasterize the layer before doing the Copy, or (if available) you could try Copy Merged or Copy Flattened instead of Copy.

Thanks, that was it. I was working with an Image layer rather than a raster layer. Using Copy Flattened, then Paste into my new document, got me the result I need.

I didn't even realize this was a thing. I know about background layers, and have added layers, and have created raster layers, but have never considered the real differences between them. I'll have to study this. It might solve a bunch of other frustrations with Photo.

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, PLShutterbug said:

I know about background layers....

Note that in Affinity the layer name "Background" has no special significance. It is automatically assigned to raster image files (like PNG's, GIF's, or JPG's) if opened in the app but the name can be changed to whatever you want, there can be multiple layers named "Background" in Affinity files, & they can be stacked anywhere in the layers panel.