### 4.5. Float

The Float submenu consists of commands to convert a selection into a “floating selection”.

A floating selection (sometimes called a “floating layer”) is a type of temporary layer which is similar in function to a normal layer, except that before you can resume working on any other layers in the image, a floating selection must be anchored. That is, you have to attach it to a normal (non-floating) layer, usually the original layer (the one which was active previously), or turn it into a new layer.

| Important
You cannot perform any operations on other layers while the image has a floating selection!

You can use various operations to change the image data on the floating selection. There can only be one floating selection in an image at a time.

| Tip
If you display the layer boundary by using the Show Layer Boundary command, you may have difficulty selecting a precise area of the image which you want in a layer. To avoid this problem, you can make a rectangular selection, transform it into a floating selection and anchor it to a new layer. Then simply remove the original layer.

#### 4.5.1. Activating the Submenu

You can access this submenu from the main menu through Select → Float.

#### 4.5.2. Contents of the “Float” submenu

The “Float” submenu commands are described below.

Cut and Float

  The “Cut and Float” command cuts the image selection from the layer and converts it into a floating selection.

  Activating the command

  - You can access this command from the main menu through Select → Float → Cut and Float.

  - By using the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+L.

Copy and Float

  The “Copy and Float” command copies the image selection from the layer and converts it into a floating selection.

  Activating the command

  - You can access this command from the main menu through Select → Float → Copy and Float.

#### 4.5.3. Creating a Floating Selection Automatically

Some image operations create a floating selection automatically:

- The “paste” operations Paste Buffer, Paste Buffer In Place, Paste Buffer Into The Selection, Paste Buffer Into The Selection In Place, Paste as Floating Data or Paste as Floating Data In Place or Paste as Floating Data Into Selection or Paste as Floating Data Into Selection In Place, also create a floating selection.

- In addition, all the Transform tools: Unified Transform, Rotate, Scale, Shear, Flip, Perspective, 3D Transform, and Handle Transform, create a floating selection when they are used on a selection, rather than a layer. When the Affect mode is Transform Layer and a selection already exists, these tools transform the selection and create a floating selection with the result. If a selection does not exist, they transform the current layer and do not create a floating selection. (If the Affect mode is Transform Selection, they also do not create a floating selection.)

- By click-and-dragging a selection while pressing the Ctrl+Alt, or Shift+Alt keys (see Section 2.1, “Moving or Resizing a Selection”) you also automatically create a floating selection.

#### 4.5.4. Anchor a Floating Selection

You can anchor a floating selection in various ways:

- You can anchor the floating selection to the current layer the selection is originating from. To do this, click anywhere on the image except on the floating selection. This merges the floating selection with the current layer.

- Use the Anchor layer command (Ctrl+H).

- By clicking on the anchor button of the Layers Dialog, that appears when the floating selection is created, instead of the default Merge layers icon.

- Use the To New Layer command ( Shift+Ctrl+N) to turn the floating selection into a newly created layer.

4.4. Invert |  | 4.6. By Color

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