Thin grey line and object not lining up after cutting and pasting

[mossy chasm]

It's a basic thing but driving me mad and i'm a novice. Every time I cut anything out it leaves a thin faint grey line and a gap. I've tried 0% feathering and paste in place but still. Thank you.

[indigo birch]

You need to make sure you check it when you're at 100% (any magnification at other than 100% isn't "real" visualisation in Photoshop, just an approximation). It's very possible that you won't see it when at 100%. Also, you should check with an export of the file, generally it disapears.
If it persists, it's also that the "anti-alias" is playing there, try to untick it

But the rule of thumb is always checking the artwork at 100%

Try to learn how to create mask to hide things instead of cutting elements. With a mask you can slightly expand (with the maximum filter) so composites blend better

[mossy chasm]

Can I have your brain please? literally all I wanted to do was cut a character into 2 or 3 parts and export them into a program to animate but it's turned into a complex endeavour. I will check it at 100%. I'll check anti-alias. Right so I will have to learn to make masks. Thanks.

[indigo birch]

The issue generally is that it's always better - when possible_ to prepare for animation using vector shapes, instead of raster ones, like it's likely the case here. People who prepare animation for -say - After effects or Adobe charater animator will do it with shapes created in Adobe Illustrator. Modifying ratser shapes leads to loss of quality at each modification. That said, of course it's possible, but you need a starter image with a good enough resolution so your cuts and masks can be invisible. if you're working at low resolution, it gnerally shows

[mossy chasm]

I noticed that when I imported my image into Wallpaper Engine it looks of lesser quality than the original, even though I saved it in PNG. At this stage I am thinking this is too much for me. My starter images are high res.

[indigo birch]

Maybe by removing the anti aliasing it will be enough. (and check that magnification, it may be just a visualisation glitch)

[mossy chasm]

I removed it and after exporting the two layers still don't fit. I think it's time for me to give up. A shame really.

That's in wallpaper engine

Thanks by the way

Maybe feathering shouldn't be at zero, no idea.

[obtuse crag]

Is the problem present in Photoshop? Did you try to export from wallpaper engine to see if the issue is only present at preview? Did you know you can animate in Photoshop? Or maybe Adobe express if you do not feel ready for after effects.

[mossy chasm]

Yes the problem is present in Photoshop.

[obtuse crag]

At 100% magnification? Ctrl+1? How are you selecting?

[mossy chasm]

Yes at 100% it's the same. I select in various different ways including polygonal and magnetic tool. Magic wand, etc. In this I used polygonal.

[obtuse crag]

Does it do it if you Ctrl+J

[obtuse crag]

The issue with diagonals that pixels are semi selected. One would need a hard edge to have only full pixels

[mossy chasm]

So what is the best way to cut an image into parts to export? That's literally all I want to do.

I think I might move to using gimp

Thanks

Is there a video that shows me. I'll look. Otherwise id consider paying for a tutorial.

[indigo birch]

I would create vector masks, that's THE accurate way to cut things out. That's what's used usually.
https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/using/masking-layers-vector-masks.html
This is also a non-destructive method in Photoshop (and the competition), you'll hear that a lot : "work non-destructively". That means no cutting and pasting, that means always keeping the integrity of a layer, and just hiding what you don't need.
As soon as you cut, you are bound to issues down to anti-aliasing, rounding up of magnification levels and all that sort of things. That's inherent to any raster program (including GIMP)

[obtuse crag]

Or using masks, but expanding them a bit?