Photoshop

Copy between applications

You can use the Cut, Copy, or Paste commands to copy selections from Photoshop and paste them into other applications, or to paste artwork from other applications into Photoshop. The cut or copied selection remains on the clipboard until you cut or copy another selection. You can also copy artwork between Photoshop and Illustrator by dragging and dropping.

In some cases, the contents of the clipboard are converted to a raster image. Photoshop prompts you when vector artwork will be rasterized.

Note: The image is rasterized at the resolution of the file into which you paste it.

Paste PostScript artwork from another application

  1. In the supporting application, select your artwork, and choose Edit > Copy.
  2. Select the image into which you’ll paste the selection.
  3. Choose Edit > Paste.
  4. In the Paste dialog box, select from the following Paste As options:
    Smart Object
    Places the artwork in a new layer as a smart object.

    Pixels
    Rasterizes the artwork as it is pasted. Rasterizing converts mathematically defined vector artwork to pixels.

    Paths
    Pastes the copy as a path in the Paths palette. When copying type from Illustrator, you must first convert it to outlines.

    Shape Layer
    Creates a new shape layer that uses the path as a vector mask.
    Note: When copying artwork from Adobe Illustrator, the default clipboard preferences in Illustrator may prevent the Paste dialog box from appearing in Photoshop. Select AICB in the File Handling and Clipboard area of the Preferences dialog box in Illustrator if you want the Paste options to appear when you paste the artwork into Photoshop.

  5. If you chose Paste As Pixels in the previous step, you can choose Anti-aliased in the options bar to make a smooth transition between the edges of the selection and the surrounding pixels.
    Note: You can use the Matting commands if you have already merged data and are trying to reextract the rasterized data.

Save clipboard contents when you quit Photoshop

  1. Do one of the following:

    • (Windows) Choose Edit > Preferences > General.

    • (Mac OS) Choose Photoshop > Preferences > General.

  2. Select Export Clipboard to save any Photoshop contents to the clipboard when you quit Photoshop.

Copy artwork by dragging and dropping

 Do one of the following:

  • Drag one or more Illustrator vector objects into an open image in Photoshop. This creates a vector Smart Object layer in the image. Choose Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Content to reopen the content in Illustrator for editing.

  • To copy the vector object as a path in Photoshop, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) as you drag from Illustrator.

  • To copy the contents of the currently selected layer in Photoshop to Illustrator, use the Move tool to drag the content from the Photoshop window into an open Illustrator document.