How to crop one layer without cropping the background

Question

I don't know what's happening here: I open a new document 5"x5". This is Layer 0. I save the document.

I open a new layer. Then I place an embedded file into that layer. I save the document.

So then I go to the layer with the embedded file on it. I try to crop the background of just that image.

But it crops the Layer 0 area too! Should it do that???

How can I crop a layer, without changing any other layer? It appears Photoshop has changed without telling me.

Rick

JJMack · Accepted Answer

You can clear out pixels in a raster layer.  Select the pixels you want to keep in a layer invert the selection and clear the inverted selection. Ctrl+X cut.....  However, you can not change Pixels in a smart object layer.  Therefore with a smart object layer you would not invert the selected pixels selection.  Instead you would click the add layer mask in the layer palette or use manu Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal Selection or Hide Selection if you inverted the pixels election. Clearing pixels in a the Background layer will turn the document's current background color. Adding a Layer mask to the background  layer will convert the layer to a normal raster layer which can contain transparency.

jane-e · Answer

Cropping will crop the entire file. For one layer, what you want instead is Edit > Transform (Cmd+T or Carl+T), then accept the transformation in the options bar. Proportional scaling is the default.

~ Jane

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