How to Cut and Paste on Photoshop

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Cutting is the process of copying the media you’ve selected, but removing it from the original document as well. Pasting is the process of adding the copied media into the document. This wikiHow teaches you how to cut and paste in Photoshop shop using the keyboard and your mouse. These methods work in both the Photoshop program and the online version, and with both PC and Mac.

Quick Steps

  • Select what you want to cut.
  • On your keyboard, press CTRL + X (Windows) or CMD + X (Mac) to cut.
  • Select a new location or layer.
  • Press CTRL + V (Windows) or CMD + V (Mac) to paste.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-1.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can cut things such as text, images, or shapes from your Photoshop document.
    • If there are multiple objects you want to cut one layer, press Ctrl + A (PC) or ⌘ Cmd + A . [1]
    • If you want to select more than one object at a time, you can press and hold Ctrl (PC) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac) and click the other objects.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-2.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The selected object is copied to your clipboard and removed from the project.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-3.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The copied object is pasted into your document.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using the Toolbar

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-4.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can cut things such as text, images, or shapes from your Photoshop document.
    • If there are multiple objects you want to cut one layer, press Ctrl + A (PC) or ⌘ Cmd + A .
    • If you want to select more than one object at a time, you can press and hold Ctrl (PC) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac) and click the other objects.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-5.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's near the top-left corner of the screen.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-6.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The object will copy to your clipboard and disappear from the project.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-7.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You’ll see this above your project on Windows and on the top of your screen on Mac.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-8.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The object will appear again in your project.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Right-clicking a Selection

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-9.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can cut things such as text, images, or shapes from your Photoshop document.
    • If there are multiple objects you want to cut one layer, press Ctrl + A (PC) or ⌘ Cmd + A .
    • If you want to select more than one object at a time, you can press and hold Ctrl (PC) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac) and click the other objects.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-10.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A menu will appear next to your cursor.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-11.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The object will copy to your clipboard and disappear from the project.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-12.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A menu will appear next to your cursor.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-13.jpg\/aid11191587-v4-728px-Cut-and-Paste-on-Photoshop-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The object will appear again in your project.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Select the media you want to cut.
      2. Click the Edit tab.
      3. Click Cut .
      4. Click the Edit tab.
      5. Click Paste .

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