resize canvas to selection

Oh, and if you want to post screen shots (with annotations!) you can use the services of http://www.pixentral.com to host them and to generate thumbnails and HTML code for you to paste into a reply.

> "Yes, but the pixels outside the selection are deleted."

> "Crop with the "hide" option checked in the options bar."

I've read and re-read and opened up an experiment image, trying to follow what you want to do, and still don't understand why the italicised reply above (from PeterK) doesn't work for what you're after. I don't even see the need for creating a "dummy" layer.

Maybe you need to explain again, with more specific detail.

Maybe you could detail (using ONLY pixels as your unit of measurement) starting Canvas dimensions, layer dimensions (all data, not just the visible portion), and the dimensions of the selections/crops/final canvas size you want.

In my experiments, the "Hide" option did exactly what I interpreted your needs to be.

BTW, Mark...what version of Photoshop are you using? Might not make a difference, but revealing that info is just a good habit to get into.

>> 3) canvas resizing: you just change the size of the active work space for your document.

> No. I don't think you can do this in PS. I've always wanted more of this functionality, akin to pasteboards, and would love to hear someone weigh in on plug-ins/tricks to achieve this. I don't think anyone in this thread is confused, yet. "Canvas resize," as far as I understand PS, is a full crop, where none of data outside the crop is retained.
J

J, that's not correct. Didn't you ever try? Canvas resizing does *not* delete pixels.

Yes, but the pixels outside the selection are deleted.

The canvas is now resized to the selection.

Yes of course John. Your point being ??

Mark

Make your selection.

Look at the W and H in the Info Palette.

Go to Image > Crop.

Now, what is the canvas size?

Doh!

>Crop with the "hide" option checked in the options bar.

OK, sorry, I thought you were talking about "shield". I didn't know the "hide" option. Great!

So, if I want to hide-crop to an existing selection, is there no other solution than the workaround with a dummy-layer? It would have been cool if the "resize canvas" dialogue were intelligent and propose the values of the current selection if any such selection exists already.

[ed]
>Crop with the "hide" option checked in the options bar.

Thanks PeterK. Make sure the background layer isn't selected.

J

If you absolutely need to use some other tool to draw your selection and crop to it, then make your selection, create a new transparent layer and fill it. This will just be a dummy layer. Turn your snap on and use the crop tool, snapping to the edges of the dummy. Crop with the "hide" option checked in the options bar.