Copying selections in Ibis Paint X

Ibis Paint X has a built-in copy function that works like most drawing apps: select the area you want, copy it, and paste it as a new layer or into another document. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using the desktop version (Windows or Mac) or the mobile app (iOS or Android), but the core steps are the same.

On desktop, use the Rectangle Select Tool or Lasso Select Tool to outline the part of your canvas you want to copy. Once you've made your selection, go to Edit in the menu bar and click Copy, or press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac). The selected area is now stored in your clipboard.

On mobile (both iOS and Android), tap the Selection Tool icon in the toolbar, draw around the area you want, then tap Copy from the menu that appears. The copied content stays in your clipboard until you copy something else.

Key Takeaways

  • Use the Rectangle Select or Lasso Select tool to outline the area you want to copy, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac) on desktop.
  • On mobile, tap the Selection Tool, draw your selection, and tap Copy from the menu.
  • Pasted content appears as a floating selection that you can move, transform, or merge into a new layer.
  • You can copy between Ibis Paint documents by copying from one and pasting into another open file.
  • Copied content stays in your clipboard only until you copy something else, so paste it before moving on to a new selection.

Pasting and placing copied content

After you copy, go to Edit and click Paste (or press Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac). The pasted content appears as a floating selection — a temporary layer that hovers above your canvas. You can move it around with the Move Tool before you commit it.

On mobile, tap Paste from the Edit menu. The pasted content will appear in the center of your canvas as a floating selection, and you can drag it to reposition it.

Once the floating selection is where you want it, you have two choices: merge it down into the layer below by tapping Merge Down, or convert it to a new layer by tapping New Layer or Create New Layer. Creating a new layer keeps your copied content separate, which is useful if you want to adjust it later without affecting the original artwork.

Copying between different Ibis Paint documents

You can copy from one Ibis Paint file and paste into another. Open both documents — on desktop, you can have them side by side or in separate windows; on mobile, you'll need to switch between them using your app switcher or by opening the second file in a new tab if your device supports split-screen.

Copy from the first document using the steps above. Then switch to the second document and paste. The copied content will paste at the same size and position relative to the canvas, though you may need to reposition it depending on the canvas size of the receiving document.

If the canvas sizes are very different, the pasted content might appear much larger or smaller than expected. You can scale it using the Transform Tool (on desktop, found in the toolbar; on mobile, tap and hold the floating selection to access transform options).

Using copy to duplicate layers or selections

Copy-paste is also a quick way to duplicate part of your work. If you want to repeat a design element — a pattern, a character pose, or a background detail — select it, copy it, and paste it multiple times. Each paste creates a new floating selection that you can position independently.

This is faster than manually redrawing the same element. You can paste the same copied content as many times as you need; the clipboard holds your copied content until you copy something else, so you don't have to re-copy between pastes.

For larger duplications, like copying an entire layer, right-click the layer in the Layers panel (desktop) or tap and hold the layer (mobile) and select Duplicate Layer instead. This creates an exact copy of the whole layer without using the clipboard.

Copying to use in other programs

Ibis Paint can copy content to your system clipboard, which means you can paste it into other programs like Photoshop, GIMP, or even document editors. Copy your selection in Ibis Paint the same way — select, then Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.

Switch to the other program and paste. Most image editors will paste it as a new layer or floating selection. Note that the pasted content will be a raster image (pixels), not vector data, so you won't be able to edit individual brush strokes in the receiving program the way you could in Ibis Paint.

If you're copying to a program that doesn't handle transparency well, the transparent areas of your selection may fill with white or another color. Check the receiving program's paste settings if this happens.

Troubleshooting copy and paste problems

If you copy something but the paste option is greyed out, make sure you actually copied — go back to Edit and confirm Copy is listed as an available option. If it's not, you may not have made a selection first. Create a selection with the Rectangle or Lasso tool, then copy again.

If pasted content appears in the wrong place or at the wrong size, check the canvas size of the document you're pasting into. Ibis Paint pastes at the same coordinates as the original, so a small canvas might place the pasted content outside the visible area. Use the Move Tool to drag it back into view, or use Undo (Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) and try again.

On mobile, if the paste button doesn't appear, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the full Edit menu, or check that you're not in a mode that locks editing (like Symmetry mode or Animation mode). Disable those modes and try pasting again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy from Ibis Paint and paste into Photoshop?

Yes. Copy your selection in Ibis Paint, switch to Photoshop, and paste. It will appear as a floating selection or new layer depending on your Photoshop version. The content will be raster (pixels), not editable brush strokes.

What happens to transparency when I copy and paste?

Transparency is preserved when you copy and paste within Ibis Paint or to other programs that support it, like Photoshop or GIMP. If you paste into a program that doesn't support transparency, the transparent areas may become white or another solid color.

Can I copy an entire layer at once?

Yes, but it's faster to use Duplicate Layer. Right-click the layer (desktop) or tap and hold it (mobile) and select Duplicate. This copies the whole layer without using the clipboard, so you can still use copy-paste for selections.

Does the clipboard hold my copied content if I close Ibis Paint?

No. When you close Ibis Paint, the clipboard is cleared. If you need to save a copied selection for later, paste it into a new layer in your document and save the file, or paste it into another program and save that file.

Why does my pasted content look pixelated or blurry?

This usually happens when you scale up pasted content using the Transform Tool. Ibis Paint uses raster graphics, so enlarging a pasted selection stretches the pixels and causes blurriness. Keep pasted content at or near its original size, or paste at a higher resolution if possible.