Cut selection to new layer - like in Fireworks

[Einarr1966]

I used Adobe Fireworks for webdesign, but have abandoned it as Adobe has. Fireworks had a great feature I'm hoping to figure out in Photoshop: You could make a selection and with one command/shortcut, Fireworks would make the selection a new layer - and fill the resulting hole in the first layer with what you in Photoshop would do with Fill->Content-aware. A combined function for this makes splitting up existing screenshots/designs a breeze. I have searched and many before me - Google quickly autofilled the search "fireworks cut from background photoshop" for me. Does anybody know of a way to get Photoshop do this with one command/shortcut? Some scripting? (which I'm not familiar with how to do)

Would greatly appreciate help!

[JohanElzenga · Accepted solution]

If the original layer is the background layer, then it should not be too difficult to make an action for this:

1: Cut to new layer

2: Make selection again by Ctrl-clicking (Alt-click on Mac) on that layer

3: Select the background layer

4: Use content-aware fill

You may want to increase the selection size by one pixel as well, so you don't get any edges.

[D.A.R]

JohanEl54​ steps shouldachieve what you are looking for.

Heres and action to make it simple after you have made the selection. Download and double click or download and install in the Actions Folder found in your Applications Folder > Photoshop > Presets

Dropbox - DAR- FW emulation.atn

[Muqqarib Hassan]

Hi,

If using adjustments on a layer, when the "New layer via cut" command is executed, the new layer is awarded all of the adjustments of the original base layer while the original base layer is cast aside with none of it's adjustments intact.

I'd like this behavior reversed. If I use the (CTL+SHIFT+J i.e. create new layer via cut) command, I'd like the original layer to maintain it's adjustments, and for the new layer to appear without any adjustments initially applied. Either that, or you could give the new layer copies of the adjustments, but my preference would be to keep the initial layer with it's adjustments, and have the newly created layer without any adjustments.

[JohanElzenga]

I assume you are using adjustment layers as clipping masks. Then it is simply a matter of dragging the newly created layer above the adjustment layer(s).

[Muqqarib Hassan]

No No I am not using adjustment layers as clipping masks.

[D.A.R]

It wouldn't matter if they were clipped or not. The answer is the same. Drag the newly created layer with the isolated object above the adjustment layer.

[JohanElzenga]

D.A.R  wrote

It wouldn't matter if they were clipped or not. The answer is the same. Drag the newly created layer with the isolated object above the adjustment layer.

Yes, the answer is the same, but the underlying problem is as I said. If the adjustment layer isn't a clipping mask, then using 'Cut to new layer' will produce a result where both the original layer and the new layer are adjusted. A normal adjustment layer affects all layers below it. What the OP described -that the new layer takes the adjustments and the original layer goes back to not adjusted- indicates that he is using the adjustment layer(s) as clipping mask(s). Even though he denies it.

[D.A.R]

First of all its not the OP we are referring to here but also I respectfully disagree.

Clipped or not. The cut item on a new layer does not have any adjustments "applied" to it.

[JohanElzenga]

I think you misunderstand my point. We don't disagree. My point is that before you move the new layer to the top, the adjustment layer will affect both layers if you had a normal adjustment layer and the adjustment layer only affects the new layer if the adjustment layer was clipped. Your video confirms that. The person who asked this described what happens when you have a clipped adjustment layer (even though he claims he did not clip it). That's all I said.

[Einarr1966]

Thanks , it's been a while since I used PS and I didn't know about the actions-recording. Worked great, I just have to tune Content-aware-fill a bit, sometimes it's too smart for it's own good and ads artifacts from quite far away.