[Avid]

We're both right. If you add the Control key to the key options that I mentioned, it places it on the Clipboard, as s2n mentioned.
Try it, then in the Finder, choose Edit/Show Clipboard.

One of the things I've used in the past is to select a portion of a Pict file or other graphics file, choose Copy, then Open Photoshop, choose New Document. The size of the new document will automatically be the same as whatever is on your clipboard. That's one way to use contents on the clipboard.