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How to Copy and Paste a Shape in Photopea

Published in Photopea Layers Editing 3 mins read

To copy and paste a shape in Photopea, you primarily use the standard copy and paste commands after selecting the area containing the shape. This process duplicates the selected content, inserting it as a new layer in your document.

Here's how to do it using the methods described:

Steps to Copy and Paste a Shape's Appearance

The most common way to copy and paste part of an image, including the visual appearance of a shape, involves making a selection first.

  1. Select the Shape's Area: Use a selection tool (like the Magic Wand, Marquee, Lasso, or Path Selection if it's a vector shape on a vector layer) to select the specific area of the canvas that contains the shape you want to copy. If your shape is on its own layer, you can often select its pixels easily.
  2. Copy the Selection: With the area selected, use the copy command. You can do this via the menu or a keyboard shortcut:
    • Go to Edit > Copy.
    • Alternatively, press Ctrl + C (or Cmd + C on Mac).
    • (Note: You could also use Edit > Cut or Ctrl + X if you want to remove the shape from its original location instead of just copying it.)
  3. Paste the Shape: Once copied, you can paste the content. This action will insert the copied shape as a new layer.
    • Go to Edit > Paste.
    • Alternatively, press Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V on Mac).

Understanding the Copy/Paste Function

The Photopea copy and paste feature, as described in the reference, operates on the "selected area."

Action Menu Command Keyboard Shortcut Description
Copy Edit > Copy Ctrl + C / Cmd + C Duplicates the selected area.
Cut Edit > Cut Ctrl + X / Cmd + X Removes and duplicates the selected area.
Paste Edit > Paste Ctrl + V / Cmd + V Inserts the copied/cut content as a new layer.

After you use Edit - Paste or Ctrl + V, the copied or cut "selected area" will be inserted as a new layer in your current document. You can even paste this selected content into another Photopea document.

Important Considerations

  • This method copies the pixels within the selected area. If your shape is a vector shape, this process effectively copies its current appearance (as pixels) rather than the editable vector path itself, unless you specifically selected the path.
  • Pasting always creates a new layer. The copied shape will not replace content on an existing layer but will appear on its own separate layer, which you can then move, transform, or edit independently.