making a selection a new layer

[_Jody_Shassol_]

I am trying to make my selection a new layer.
I get:
could not make a new layer from the selection because the selected area is empty.

when I got this message before, I duplicated the background level first and then my selection was able to be saved in the new layer.
Now when I try that it does not work.

what am I doing wrong?
thanks

[Guest]

Are you sure that the Layer containing the image from which you want to copy, is actually targeted (high-lit) in your layers Panel?

Then, did you use Cmd J ("NewLayer via Copy" )?

[_Jody_Shassol_]

thanks I didn't realize I needed to be on the layer it was coming from. I'm using quick selection and refine edge. Is there any way to get it more exact?

[Ed_Hannigan]

If you have elements on different Layers you may want to use Edit>Copy Merged and then Paste into the same selection to get it all on a new Layer.