To convert a selection into a layer, use the Promote to Layer command on the Selections menu. The original selection contents are unchanged; a copy of the selection becomes a new layer. By converting the selection into a layer, you can modify it without changing the original image data.
Important: This command works on 16 million color and greyscale images only. To increase the color depth of an image, see Increasing the Color Depth of an Image.
To promote a selection to a layer:
Make a selection in the image.
Choose Selections > Promote to Layer.
The new layer is placed above the original selection’s layer and is named Promoted Selection.
Note: To place a selection as a layer within another image, copy the selection, open the other image, and choose Edit > Paste > As New Layer.
Creating Custom Patterns from Selections