Copying selections w/ transparency

I ran into this problem while making my sig, I thought I would ask about it. When trying to copy the lines (it's actually 3 images, top end, and bottom), and selected the area with the marquee tool, the actual selection was 252 pixels wide and 36 high, but it would only copy the line, and I ended with a new image of 4 pixels high.

It wouldn't copy all the transparent area around it, only the actual line. So I would have to copy it, create a new image at the right width/height, then manually move the line until it was situated to match up.

How do I go about doing it if I run into this situation again?

I use to flatten the layers, copying the area, unflatting (undoing..), creating a new image, copying the part (the line in your case), and pasting it in the new image with the right dimensions... This doesn´t mean that you get the line in the exactly right position, but....well, anyways....

oh, and btw, I didn´t bite your idea on the sig.. I tried it in the test-area a while ago..but didn´t seam to get it working... Now that I saw that you pulled it off, I tried again.. And got it to work! ..just had to say it. :D btw, love the Homer-idea!!!