REVISIT: how to cut and paste a selected image portion between two open AP windows?

[kalinoaj]

How to cut and paste a selected image portion between two open AP windows?

 

First let me describe what I want to do by an aLTERNATE (non AP) method.

 

Say you have two open windows in AP, where you want to copy the color legend

in the window 1 plot image onto the plot image in window 2.

 

I use the grab application  in the MAC  utility tool box and clip out  (copy) the legend

in window 1 and then simply paste it into the appropriate spot in the window 2 plot image.

 

I was told by a staff member ( see quote below) that another way to do this in AP is:

 

"If you open both images in Affinity Photo you should be able to copy and paste the legend into your second image using the selection tools.  Once you have selected your legend go to Edit > Copy then switch to the document you want the legend to be placed into and go to Edit > Place:

 

I tried this two ways and I cannot get it to work!

 

Case 1)   I select the legend I want with the rectangular marquee tool and then press command key  copy on Mac

 

 then I go to second wind ow and try to use Edit>Place.

BUT there is no place option under edit!  maybe he meant EDit>paste?

 

Case 2    I do the same thing except use Edit>paste as last step.

 

Then what I get is NOT the desired legend that I selected, but rather the whole graph & Legend!!

 

It is acting as if I copied the whole window 1 image, not the selected legend alone.

 

 

Question:

 

Once you select the portion you want with the marquee selection, do you have to press some key combination of some sort (say the return key) to complete the marquee select operation before trying to copy it somewhere else?

 

 

 

 

 

[Alfred]

Have you tried what Callum suggested in your original thread? (It's better to stick to one thread for the same issue, so that everyone can follow the discussion more easily.)

[kalinoaj]

Yes i did follow Callum's suggestion.

That is what i call case 1 in my last discussion.

 

I also tried a slightly different version  since there is no "place option that i can see" under edit (called case 2 in my last discussion).

 

There is a place option under file however, but that is not what he said to do.

[Alfred]

Yes i did follow Callum's suggestion.

That is what i call case 1 in my last discussion.

 

I see, thanks. I'm sure the reference to "place" was a slip of the virtual pen and that Callum actually meant to type "paste".

 

If you're copying from an Image layer (denoted by '(Image)' in the Layers panel) in an Affinity app, any selection will be ignored and you'll just get a copy of the entire layer. If that's the problem you're having, right-click the layer in the Layers panel and choose 'Rasterize...' to convert it to a Pixel layer so that you can work on it at the pixel level.

[kalinoaj]

Alfred:

 

I got the copy paste between two windows to work by two methods: 

 

Method (1) Window 1 containing the legend I want to copy was made by opening a blank page and then

inserting  the original graph& legend (a simple tiff image (WITH NO LAYERS) ) using the file> PLACE command.

 

Then I used your suggestion of

"right-click the layer in the Layers panel and choose 'Rasterize...' to convert it to a Pixel layer so that you can work on it at the pixel level."

 

Then I was able to use the square marquee to select the legend, followed by copy and paste into the second window 2.

 

Method (2) don't use the file>PLACE command, but rather simply open the tiff file  in window 1 with the OPEN command. Then like before, 

use the square marquee to select the legend, followed by copy and paste into the second window 2.

 

 

I think using the PLACE command as in method 1 created a layer? and that is why I had to use your  Rasterize suggestion?

 

 

QUESTION: I prefer the method 2 since it is simpler. But do both methods produce the same quality image?

​that would be the deciding factor. the result appears to look of equal quality.

 

Thanks for your great suggestion on method 1

[R C-R]

I think using the PLACE command as in method 1 created a layer? and that is why I had to use your  Rasterize suggestion?

Either method will create a layer. The difference is the kind of layer created: the Place command will create an Image layer (as Alfred said, denoted by '(Image)' in the Layers panel), while copying a selection from a rasterized image (like a tiff might contain) & pasting it into another document will create a Pixel layer.

 

In Affinity, Image layers are treated as if all their pixels are part of one indivisible object (much like a vector shape), which is why you can't copy, erase, or otherwise change just a part of an Image layer. Even if you resize, rotate, or stretch an Image layer, it retains all its pixels at their original resolution, which means unless/until you rasterize it it will retain its original quality.

[kalinoaj]

Thanks RC-R for the good description!

 

OK, in the end,  which one would look better in the window 2 where the cut out image is finally pasted ?

 

Which method would you recommend , method 1 or method 2?