Figure 5.11.  Moving the selection reveals the background layer

After creating a rectangular, elliptic or free selection, or with the Magic wand, the default mouse pointer is the moving cross. Then, Click-and-drag allows you to move the selection and its content, while the initial position remains empty.

If you want to move only the selection border not moving its content, then press down the Alt key and clic-and-drag the selection.

	Note
	Sometimes the Alt key is used by the window manager and you move the image window instead of the selection. If this is the case, select the move tool and change the “Affect” option.

Moving a selection without emptying its initial position is more complicated: while pressing the Ctrl key, move mouse pointer a little, then press also the Alt key, then click-and-drag the selection. More simply by using the Move tool in Selection mode.

You can also move a By-color selection by selecting the Move tool and click-and-drag while pressing the Alt key.

Moving a selection automatically creates a floating layer (floating selection).See Floating selection . Then the mouse pointer represents an anchor when it is outside of the selection. This means that the selection will be definitely fixed at the choosen place when clicking.