If you want to make a layer from a selected area of an image, the easiest way is to use Layer Via Cut or Layer Via Copy. First, use the selection tools to outline the area you want to put on a layer.

 

 

In this example, the trunk of the palm tree has been selected using the magnetic lasso.

 

When you have made your selection, choose Layer->New->Layer via Copy or Layer-> New-> Layer via Cut from the menu bar.

 

If you choose Layer Via Copy, the selected region will be copied from the background image to a new layer, leaving the background layer unaltered.

 

If you choose Layer Via Cut, the selected region will placed on a new layer, and the image information corresponding to the selected area will be cut (removed) from the background layer.

 

 

In the image shown here, the trunk selection was added to a new layer (Layer 1) by using Layer via Copy. The new layer was then set to invisible (by clicking the eye icon). This means that only the background layer can be seen. You can see clearly that the background image has not changed.

 

If you make a selection around the trunk and then choose Layer->New->Layer via Cut, the trunk will be placed on a new layer as before, but the background image will be changed. The “trunk” image data will be cut from the background image leaving no information where the selected region was.

 

For an example of this, look at the following image.

 

 

You can see that a new layer (Layer 1) was created with the palm trunk on it. When this layer is set to invisible, you can see that the selected area has been cut from the underlying image.