Expert: Glen Demers - 7/15/2010

Question
Hi
Please could you tell me what the clipboard is in adobe photoshop? I have looked alot on the internet and although there are many references to it I can't find a description or image of what it actually is or does.
I am a digital artist following a tutorial on compositing zbrush render passes in photoshop. In the tutorial it states an image needs to be copied to the clipboard, yet has no information of what or where the clipboard is.
Many thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.
Yours faithfully
Bill

Answer
Hi Bill,

The clipboard is an area of memory on your computer reserved for when you copy something. It's part of your computer system but can be used by many different applications.

Whenever you select an image and go Edit>Copy, that image is copied to the clipboard. It stays there until something else is copied and overwrites it or the computer shuts down.

You'll know you have something on the clipboard because the Edit>Paste and Paste Into options will be available to use.

On a Macintosh, you can go to the Finder and select Edit>Show Clipboard to see what is currently stored on the clipboard.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more Photoshop tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/photoshop.htm