Problem with copying and pasting between images

I'm a PS newbie, and I've been trying to copy a selection from one image and paste it in another. This normally works perfectly, but I've been having real problems with one image. Whenever I copy something onto it (with most pics, at least; haven't tried them all) the copied selection loses all colour and texture and becomes an apparently random selection of white and black pixels.

Is there a setting somewhere that I should change? Are the images just incompatible? Please help.

Here's an example screenshot. Request any further information you want and I'll try to provide it.

Edit: In case you couldn't tell, I'm trying to copy the stick on the right onto the witch.

Have you tried using the move tool to drag the image you want to the image you are editing? Make a new layer, and with both images open, use the move tool to drag and drop the image of the stick to the witch, then click edit and resize and place the image where you want, once done, you can merge the layer down. I hope this helps!

msbay01

Make sure you're on the right layer when you're copying. PS only copies the layer you're editing unless you specify it.
Otherwise, you can do the "Copy Merged" (CTRL+SHIFT+C on PC), which will copy the merged pixels of all layers in the selected area.

Hope that helps.

Your second image that your copying too could also have the wrong mode set e.g. your copying from an RGB to a Greyscale mode picture, check Image>>Mode and set the image you are copying into to RGB

hope that helps
Mox

It looks more link its in Indexed Color mode, which forced PS to translate the second image into a predefined pallet of colors.

That's what I was thinking. Change the mode of your witch to RGB. Make sure the color mode of the burning stick is in RGB too. Theyre under the Image menu.