Julieanne Kost
http://www.jkost.com/photoshop.html
Last updated on
- Photoshop User Guide
- Introduction to Photoshop
- Photoshop and other Adobe products and services
- Photoshop on the iPad (not available in mainland China)
- Photoshop on the iPad | Common questions
- Get to know the workspace
- System requirements | Photoshop on the iPad
- Create, open, and export documents
- Add photos
- Work with layers
- Draw and paint with brushes
- Make selections and add masks
- Retouch your composites
- Work with adjustment layers
- Adjust the tonality of your composite with Curves
- Apply transform operations
- Crop and rotate your composites
- Rotate, pan, zoom, and reset the canvas
- Work with Type layers
- Work with Photoshop and Lightroom
- Get missing fonts in Photoshop on the iPad
- Japanese Text in Photoshop on the iPad
- Manage app settings
- Touch shortcuts and gestures
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Edit your image size
- Livestream as you create in Photoshop on the iPad
- Correct imperfections with the Healing Brush
- Create brushes in Capture and use them in Photoshop
- Work with Camera Raw files
- Create and work with Smart Objects
- Adjust exposure in your images with Dodge and Burn
- Photoshop on the web (not available in mainland China)
- Common questions
- System requirements
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Supported file types
- Introduction to the workspace
- Open and work with cloud documents
- Generative AI features
- Basic concepts of editing
- Quick Actions
- Work with layers
- Retouch images and remove imperfections
- Make quick selections
- Image improvements with Adjustment Layers
- Move, transform, and crop images
- Draw and paint
- Work with Type layers
- Work with anyone on the web
- Manage app settings
- Photoshop (beta) (not available in mainland China)
- Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
- Content authenticity (not available in mainland China)
- Cloud documents (not available in mainland China)
- Photoshop cloud documents | Common questions
- Photoshop cloud documents | Workflow questions
- Manage and work with cloud documents in Photoshop
- Upgrade cloud storage for Photoshop
- Unable to create or save a cloud document
- Solve Photoshop cloud document errors
- Collect cloud document sync logs
- Invite others to edit your cloud documents
- Share files and comment in-app
- Workspace
- Workspace basics
- Preferences
- Learn faster with the Photoshop Discover Panel
- Create documents
- Place files
- Default keyboard shortcuts
- Customize keyboard shortcuts
- Tool galleries
- Performance preferences
- Use tools
- Presets
- Grid and guides
- Touch gestures
- Use the Touch Bar with Photoshop
- Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
- Technology previews
- Metadata and notes
- Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
- Place Photoshop images in other applications
- Rulers
- Show or hide non-printing Extras
- Specify columns for an image
- Undo and history
- Panels and menus
- Position elements with snapping
- Position with the Ruler tool
- Web, screen, and app design
- Image and color basics
- How to resize images
- Work with raster and vector images
- Image size and resolution
- Acquire images from cameras and scanners
- Create, open, and import images
- View images
- Invalid JPEG Marker error | Opening images
- Viewing multiple images
- Customize color pickers and swatches
- High dynamic range images
- Match colors in your image
- Convert between color modes
- Color modes
- Erase parts of an image
- Blending modes
- Choose colors
- Customize indexed color tables
- Image information
- Distort filters are unavailable
- About color
- Color and monochrome adjustments using channels
- Choose colors in the Color and Swatches panels
- Sample
- Color mode or Image mode
- Color cast
- Add a conditional mode change to an action
- Add swatches from HTML CSS and SVG
- Bit depth and preferences
- Layers
- Layer basics
- Nondestructive editing
- Create and manage layers and groups
- Select, group, and link layers
- Place images into frames
- Layer opacity and blending
- Mask layers
- Apply Smart Filters
- Layer comps
- Move, stack, and lock layers
- Mask layers with vector masks
- Manage layers and groups
- Layer effects and styles
- Edit layer masks
- Extract assets
- Reveal layers with clipping masks
- Generate image assets from layers
- Work with Smart Objects
- Blending modes
- Combine multiple images into a group portrait
- Combine images with Auto-Blend Layers
- Align and distribute layers
- Copy CSS from layers
- Load selections from a layer or layer mask's boundaries
- Knockout to reveal content from other layers
- Selections
- Get started with selections
- Make selections in your composite
- Select and Mask workspace
- Select with the marquee tools
- Select with the lasso tools
- Adjust pixel selections
- Move, copy, and delete selected pixels
- Create a temporary quick mask
- Select a color range in an image
- Convert between paths and selection borders
- Channel basics
- Save selections and alpha channel masks
- Select the image areas in focus
- Duplicate, split, and merge channels
- Channel calculations
- Get started with selections
- Image adjustments
- Replace object colors
- Perspective warp
- Reduce camera shake blurring
- Healing brush examples
- Export color lookup tables
- Adjust image sharpness and blur
- Understand color adjustments
- Apply a Brightness/Contrast adjustment
- Adjust shadow and highlight detail
- Levels adjustment
- Adjust hue and saturation
- Adjust vibrance
- Adjust color saturation in image areas
- Make quick tonal adjustments
- Apply special color effects to images
- Enhance your image with color balance adjustments
- High dynamic range images
- View histograms and pixel values
- Match colors in your image
- Crop and straighten photos
- Convert a color image to black and white
- Adjustment and fill layers
- Curves adjustment
- Blending modes
- Target images for press
- Adjust color and tone with Levels and Curves eyedroppers
- Adjust HDR exposure and toning
- Dodge or burn image areas
- Make selective color adjustments
- Adobe Camera Raw
- Camera Raw system requirements
- What's new in Camera Raw
- Introduction to Camera Raw
- Create panoramas
- Supported lenses
- Vignette, grain, and dehaze effects in Camera Raw
- Default keyboard shortcuts
- Automatic perspective correction in Camera Raw
- Radial Filter in Camera Raw
- Manage Camera Raw settings
- Open, process, and save images in Camera Raw
- Repair images with the Enhanced Spot Removal tool in Camera Raw
- Rotate, crop, and adjust images
- Adjust color rendering in Camera Raw
- Process versions in Camera Raw
- Make local adjustments in Camera Raw
- Image repair and restoration
- Image enhancement and transformation
- Drawing and painting
- Paint symmetrical patterns
- Draw rectangles and modify stroke options
- About drawing
- Draw and edit shapes
- Painting tools
- Create and modify brushes
- Blending modes
- Add color to paths
- Edit paths
- Paint with the Mixer Brush
- Brush presets
- Gradients
- Gradient interpolation
- Fill and stroke selections, layers, and paths
- Draw with the Pen tools
- Create patterns
- Generate a pattern using the Pattern Maker
- Manage paths
- Manage pattern libraries and presets
- Draw or paint with a graphics tablet
- Create textured brushes
- Add dynamic elements to brushes
- Gradient
- Paint stylized strokes with the Art History Brush
- Paint with a pattern
- Sync presets on multiple devices
- Migrate presets, actions, and settings
- Text
- Filters and effects
- Saving and exporting
- Color Management
- Web, screen, and app design
- Video and animation
- Printing
- Automation
- Troubleshooting
Scale layers proportionally
Updated in Photoshop 21.0 (November 2019 release)
When transforming any layer type, dragging a corner handle now scales the layer proportionally by default, indicated by the Maintain Aspect Ratio button (Link icon) in the ON state in the Options bar. To change the default transform behavior to non-proportional scaling, simply turn OFF the Maintain Aspect Ratio (Link icon) button. The Shift key, while pressed, now acts as a toggle for the Maintain Aspect Ratio button. If the Maintain Aspect Ratio button is ON, the Shift key toggles it OFF while pressed and vice versa. Photoshop remembers your last transform behavior setting—proportional or non-proportional scaling—it will be your default transform behavior when you start Photoshop the next time.
For detailed instructions, see Scale, rotate, skew, distort, apply perspective, or warp.
How do I switch back to the legacy transform behavior?
From the menu bar, choose Edit (Win)/Photoshop (Mac) > Preferences > General, then select Legacy Free Transform.
Apply transformations
Transforming scales, rotates, skews, stretches, or warps an image. You can apply transformations to a selection, an entire layer, multiple layers, or a layer mask. You can also apply transformations to a path, a vector shape, a vector mask, a selection border, or an alpha channel. Transforming affects image quality when you manipulate the pixels. To apply non-destructive transformations to raster images, use Smart Objects. (See Work with Smart Objects.) Transforming a vector shape or path is always non-destructive because you’re only changing the mathematical calculations producing the object.
To make a transformation, first select an item to transform and then choose a transformation command. If necessary, adjust the reference point before manipulating the transformation. You can perform several manipulations in succession before applying the cumulative transformation. For example, you can choose Scale and drag a handle to scale, and then choose Distort and drag a handle to distort. Then press Enter or Return to apply both transformations.
Photoshop uses the interpolation method selected in the General area of the Preferences dialog box to calculate the color values of pixels that are added or deleted during transformations. This interpolation setting directly affects the speed and quality of the transformation. Bicubic interpolation, the default, is slowest but yields the best results.
Note:
You can also warp and distort raster images using the Liquify filter.
A. Original image B. Layer flipped C. Selection border rotated D. Part of object scaled
Transform submenu commands
Scale
Enlarges or reduces an item relative to its reference point, the fixed point around which transformations are performed. You can scale horizontally, vertically, or both horizontally and vertically.
Rotate
Turns an item around a reference point. By default, this point is at the center of the object; however, you can move it to another location.
Skew
Slants an item vertically and horizontally.
Distort
Stretches an item in all directions.
Perspective
Applies one‑point perspective to an item.
Warp
Manipulates the shape of an item.
Rotate 180, Rotate 90 CW, Rotate 90 CCW
Rotates the item by the specified number of degrees, either clockwise or counterclockwise.
Flip
Flips the item vertically or horizontally.
Video tutorial: Tips for working with vectors in Photoshop
In this episode of The Complete Picture, Julieanne demonstrates features for working with vectors in Photoshop.
Select an item to transform
-
Do one of the following:
- To transform an entire layer, make the layer active, and make sure nothing is selected.
Note:You cannot transform the background layer. To transform it, first convert it to a regular layer.
- To transform part of a layer, select the layer in the Layers panel, and then select part of the image on that layer.
- To transform multiple layers, do either of the following in the Layers panel: Link the layers together, or select multiple layers by Ctrl-clicking (Windows) or Command-clicking (Mac OS) more than one layer. In the Layers panel, you can also Shift-click to select contiguous layers. (See Select, group, and link layers.)
- To transform a layer mask or a vector mask, unlink the mask and select the mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
- To transform a path or vector shape, use the Path Selection tool
to select the entire path or the Direct Selection tool 
to select part of the path. If you select one or more points on a path, only those path segments connected to the points are transformed. (See Select a path.)
- To transform a selection border, make or load a selection. Then choose Select > Transform Selection.
- To transform an alpha channel, select the channel in the Channels panel.
Set or move the reference point for a transformation
Updated in the October 2018 release of Photoshop CC (20.0)
All transformations are performed around a fixed point called the reference point. By default, this point is at the center of the item you are transforming. However, you can change the reference point or move the center point to a different location using the reference point locator in the options bar.
-
Choose a transformation command. A bounding box appears in the image.
-
The reference point is hidden by default. To show the reference point (
), click select the check box next to the reference point locator (
) in the options bar. 
Show reference point check box in the options bar. -
Do one of the following:
- In the options bar, click a square on the
reference point locator . Each square
represents a point on the bounding box. For example, to move the reference
point to the upper-left corner of the bounding box, click the top
left square on the reference point locator.
- In the transform bounding box that appears in the
image, drag the reference point . The
reference point can be outside the item you want to transform.
- In the options bar, click a square on the
reference point locator
Scale, rotate, skew, distort, apply perspective, or warp
You can apply various transform operations such as Scale, Rotate, Skew, Distort, Perspective, or Warp to the selected image.
-
Select what you want to transform.
-
Choose Edit > Transform > Scale, Rotate, Skew, Distort, Perspective, or Warp.Note:
If you are transforming a shape or entire path, the Transform menu becomes the Transform Path menu. If you are transforming multiple path segments (but not the entire path), the Transform menu becomes the Transform Points menu.
-
(Optional) In the options bar, click a square on the reference point locator.
-
Do one or more of the following:
Use the Maintain Aspect Ratio button (Link icon) in the Options bar to choose the default scaling behavior - If you chose Scale, drag a handle on the bounding box. When positioned over a handle, the pointer becomes a double arrow.
- If the Maintain Aspect Ratio button (Link icon) is ON in the Options bar, drag a corner handle to scale the layer proportionally.
- If the Maintain Aspect Ratio button (Link icon) is OFF in the Options bar, drag a corner handle scales the layer non-proportionally.
- Hold down the Shift key while transforming to toggle between proportional and non-proportional scaling behavior.
- If you chose Rotate, move the pointer outside the bounding border (it becomes a curved, two-sided arrow), and then drag. Press Shift to constrain the rotation to 15° increments.
- If you chose Skew, drag a side handle to slant the bounding box.
- If you chose Distort, drag a corner handle to stretch the bounding box.
- If you chose Perspective, drag a corner handle to apply perspective to the bounding box.
- If you chose Warp, choose a warp from the Warp Style pop‑up menu in the options bar, or to perform a custom warp, drag the control points, a line, or an area within the mesh to change the shape of the bounding box and mesh.
- For all types of transformations, enter a value
in the options bar. For example, to rotate an item, specify degrees
in the rotation
text
box.
- If you chose Scale, drag a handle on the bounding box. When positioned over a handle, the pointer becomes a double arrow.
-
(Optional) If desired, switch to a different type of transformation by selecting a command from the Edit > Transform submenu.Note:
When you transform a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), the image becomes slightly less sharp each time you commit a transformation; therefore, performing multiple commands before applying the cumulative transformation is preferable to applying each transformation separately.
-
(Optional) If you want to warp the image, click the Switch Between Free Transform And Warp Mode button
in
the options bar.
-
When you finish, do one of the following to commit the transformation:
- Select a new tool.
- Click a layer in the Layers panel. (This action auto-commits changes and also selects the layer.)
- Click outside the canvas area in the document window.
- Click outside the bounding box in the canvas area.
- Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS), click the Commit button
in the options bar, or double-click inside the transformation marquee.
To cancel the transformation, press Esc or click the Cancel button
in the options bar.
Flip or rotate precisely
-
Select what you want to transform.
-
Choose Edit > Transform and choose one of the following commands from the submenu:
Rotate to specify degrees in the options bar
Rotate 180° to rotate by a half‑turn
Rotate 90° CW to rotate clockwise by a quarter‑turn
Rotate 90° CCW to rotate counterclockwise by a quarter‑turn
Flip Horizontal to flip horizontally, along the vertical axis
Flip Vertical to flip vertically, along the horizontal axis
Note:If you are transforming a shape or entire path, the Transform command becomes the Transform Path command. If you are transforming multiple path segments (but not the entire path), the Transform command becomes the Transform Points command.
Repeat a transformation
To repeat a transformation, choose Edit > Transform > Again.
Duplicate an item when transforming it
To duplicate while transforming, hold down Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) when selecting the Transform command.
Reset Smart Object transforms
If you've transformed a Smart Object, you can reset all transformations you've previously applied by doing one of the following:
- Right-click the Smart Object layer and choose Reset Transform
- Choose Layer > Smart Objects > Reset Transform
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