Help, please: Objects in Paint.NET

[jbowyer]

(Please ignore the Communist nature of the graphics in this message. It’s for a joke. )

Here’s my first layer, my background:

Then, I execute “Layers / Import From File…” to add a smaller picture to this background. Paint.NET creates layer 2 and puts a selection box around the little picture.

Then, I execute “Layers / Import From File…” again to add a smaller picture to this background. (Yes, I know that I could have used the “Duplicate Layer” command.) Paint.NET creates layer 3 and puts a selection box around the little picture.

My question:

How can I get to this situation? I want the selection box to appear only around the little picture that I placed on layer 2. Yes, I know that I can use the “Rectangular Select” tool, for example, but that’s not what I want. I want—go to layer 2, simply click on the little picture because it’s an object on layer 2, and a selection box will appear around the little picture automatically.

Does Paint.NET understand “objects” on a layer?

[Simon Brown]

Just select the magic-wand tool, click somewhere outside of the image and press Ctrl + I.

[david.atwell]

Use the Magic Wand tool ( ) to select the transparent area in the layer around it, then invert the selection. :-)

[BoltBait]

To answer your original question...

Does Paint.NET understand “objects” on a layer?

No, it does not understand "objects".

Paint.NET understands bitmap graphics. That is why when you type text, once you finalize it, the text becomes a graphic and must be dealt with in that way. It is the same with all other objects.

[jbowyer]

Thanks to Simon Brown, david.atwell, and BoltBait for furthering my indoctrination with Paint.NET.

BoltBait's signature includes "Warning: The above post contains sarcasm. Use as directed." Well, I didn't see any, but I'll be very careful how I word my questions in the future.