How to copy image directly from Finder to the clipboard? (instead of opening with Preview)

Solution 1:

After comments - it appears this may be a joint functionality of both the sending & receiving app.
Selecting the file only, then copy, will then correctly paste the image into Photoshop or Preview using the "New from Clipboard" in each case.
Pasting to Mail also works.

I initially didn't think this was possible, as Finder is not concerned at all with the contents of any file. If you copy, it will copy 'the file' as an entity, ready to paste elsewhere. To get the actual pictorial contents into the clipboard, you need an app that can first decode the file as an image, then specifically export its own clipboard when backgrounded - Preview is one such app

[It's looking more like the Finder copies this, but doesn't tell the user if they just look at the Show Clipboard window from Finder.]

…then I realised Quicklook incorporates the same functionality, so..

Select image file in Finder
Tap Spacebar to open in Quicklook.
Copy Cmd ⌘ C
Switch to whichever app you need to paste the image.
Paste Cmd ⌘ V