Newbie Question: How do you just save the highlighted item?

[Erica.S]

Hi, So I've loaded up Photoshop 7.0 (upgrade from 5.0). I never used it and I am feeling lost. I've played with making changes to pictures. I get that. I've played with the blending options and gradients. I think I've got the idea of layers down.

But, I don't know how to make just a circle image... or grab something from one image to use on another one. For instance, if I make a button and I save it. It ends up being saved as a square... so that there is white background behind the circular button. How can I just save the circle?

I wanted to cut the head of a flower out of one picture and put it on another picture. How do I do that? I have found several tutorials on making buttons and doing some graphics... but I can't seem to find a tutorial that will show me how to cut out shapes and reuse them or save images that aren't square.

If one of you could assist me or point me in the right direction. I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

[ElectrifieD]

Well you can cut the object and simply move the layer on the other pic or if you save it as .gif it has the option to be saved on transparent background if you want to use it later on

[Isick]

When you create a new image, the first thing you want to do is add a new layer (ctrl+shift+N) and DELETE the background layer. What you should be left with is a checker-board background with white and Grey squares. This pattern is 'code' for transparent. Now whatever you add to the layer will be the only thing in that layer so when you save it and open it the 'background' of the image will be nothing.

[Erica.S]

Ok, awesome. I thought that was what I was doing. But I may have just been deleting the selection on the background layer and then leaving the background layer there. I'm going to go back and try again. I really appreciate you guys helping me out.