Hi Mansson
The penny has not dropped for me as it has for Mr Tom yet let me give this a go.
I am assuming that for you image Layer there are pixels that are partially transparent where you see through to the texture. You want to preserve this partial transparency yet cut out around the edges of the image Layer where there is full transparency and do this as efficiently as possible.
So here is my take on this
- Duplicate the Image Layer (this is going to be used to create a hard mask around the Image and then this Layer will be thrown away)
- Turn off visibility of the original Image Layer
- On the duplicated Image Layer: Layer > Layer Mask > From Transparency This will create a Layer Mask based on the Transparency in the Image
- Adjust the Threshold Adjustment until it shows the correct boundary around around the image
- Right Click on the Layer Mask and choose Add Layer Mask to Selection (this will give a hard boundary mask only around the whole image)
- Turn off visibility or Delete the duplicate Image Layer
- Turn on visibility to original Image Layer and select this Layer
- Merge down to combine with Texture Layer
- Cmd/Ctrl + J copies the hard outline of the Image with merged texture to its own Layer
No need to paste multiple times
Nor sure how much easier this is yet thought it was worth mentioning.
