Photoshop How to save selection to PNG

I have a largish PSD file with a couple of hundred layers, that I would like to extract selected areas from into PNG files.

Areas can consist of a couple of layers.

Being new to Photoshop, I have been using the following workaround. Duplicate needed layers into a new scratch PSD file of same size, TRIM to transparency, Save As PNG, undo TRIM, hide layers, rinse and repeat...

I suppose I could do it without the scratch file and just crop selection, Save As PNG and undo, but there must be a nicer method.

What other ways are there to accomplish this export of a selected area to PNG?

EDIT: This is on Windows Xp running Photoshop CS3 Extended

4 Answers

• Make your selection
• Edit -> Copy Merged
• File -> New (Photoshop should automatically suggest a new canvas size to match the selection size)
• Edit -> Paste
• File -> Save As (PNG)
• Rinse and repeat... (keyboard shortcuts are handy here)

(Tested on Photoshop CS4)

Try selecting the areas with the Slice tool and then File > Export for web & devices.

I tackled this by creating a script that I put in Presets\Scripts\Export Selection to PNG.jsx

The code as follows:

app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;
var pngSaveOptions = new PNGSaveOptions();
pngSaveOptions.compression = 9;
var hasSelection;
var docRef;
try { hasSelection = !!app.activeDocument.selection.bounds;
} catch (err) { hasSelection = false;
}
if (hasSelection) { app.activeDocument.selection.copy(true); var w = app.activeDocument.selection.bounds[2]; var h = app.activeDocument.selection.bounds[3]; docRef = app.documents.add(w, h); docRef.paste();
} else { docRef = app.activeDocument;
}
var file = File.saveDialog("Export as PNG to...");
if (file && ((file.exists && confirm("Overwrite " + file +"?")) || !file.exists)) { docRef.saveAs(file, pngSaveOptions, !hasSelection, Extension.LOWERCASE); if (hasSelection) { docRef.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES); }
}

The script above will handle no-selection as a "select all" and checks if the target file exists confirming an overwrite.

This script is triggered from the File->Scripts->Export Selection to PNG

Make a selection. Then hit Ctr or CMD + J to copy that selection into a new layer. then:

File -> Scripts -> Export Layer to Files...

If your layer is smaller than the full width/height of the canvas don't forget to check Trim Layers.