On Dec 5, 2018, Ron C wrote
(in ):

On 12/5/2018 4:26 PM, Savageduck wrote:
On Dec 5, 2018, Viking wrote
(in article ):

New to photoshop.
Is there a way to make an elliptical trim fewer steps?

Open the image
Convert the background layer to a normal layer0
Select the marquee tool with the right mouse button
Change the shape to an ellipse
Draw the ellipse
Invert the selection with select inverse
Delete the inverse selection with the delete key
Unselect the selection with select deselect
Trim transparent area with image trim ok
Save the file with file save

Keyboard sequence
Control O
M draw
Control shift I
Delete
Control D
Image trim enter
Control S

Most of the time I can skip the layer change.
A repeat can also skip marquee tool selection steps.
I can skip the deselect if I use edit cut instead of the delete key.

For repeats it shortens to
Draw ellipse
Control shift I
Control X
Image trim enter

Can I assign the trim command to a key?

The simplest way you can do that is to record the above steps as a Photoshop
Action.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/creating-actions.html
I've never used trim, but I believe what he's doing can be done
quite simply using "refine edges" and outputting to
new layer with layer mask.
Thus:
Open file
Select marquee tool
make ellipse
click refine edges
output to new layer w/layer mask
[...]
Am I missing something?

No.

The thing to remember when working to a goal with Photoshop (and some of the
other higher level editing software) is, there are usually more than one
method/technique of reaching that goal, and not everybody uses the same
workflow to achieve the same end result.

--
Regards,
Savageduck