How to crop an image on a layer WITHOUT altering other layers?

[EdwardJohnAllen]

Using Photoshop Elements 14 I am trying to crop an image that sits alone on a layer without disturbing anything of the other layers (behind it). try as I might it seems that when I use the crop tool on the image I am cropping the entire collection of layers.

Is this possible within Elements to crop an image without affect anything else? or do I need to ensure that the image has the correct proportions BEFORE I place it into Elements?

Thanks in advance !

[hatstead · Accepted solution]

The crop tool is not appropriate for this task. Try the following and let us know if it works for you.

In Editor, go to the expert tab.

1. Open picture B, the one you wish to select something from to add to another picture.
2. Use one of the selection tools, e.g. selection brush, lasso tool, to select the object. You will see an outline ("marching ants") once the selection is complete
3. Go to Edit menu>copy to copy the selection to the clipboard
4. Open picture A, then go to Edit>paste
5. Use the move tool to position object from picture B.
6. In the layers palette you should see picture A as the background layer, and object B on a separate layer.

[EdwardJohnAllen]

That works.

Thanks.

[hatstead]

You're very welcome. Glad to help.

[jd64005285]

But you still can crop Picture B.

[hatstead]

Sure.

[Mark_Sand]

Is this what you are trying to do?

I want to delete the background of the sunflower, leaving it on the green background.

On layer 0 I selected just the flower, inverted the selection, and <Delete>.

For a simple rectangular crop, use the Rectangular Marquee tool to draw out the crop region, invert, and <delete>

[EdwardJohnAllen]

Hi Mark. Halstead answer nails it, but thanks for your efforts.