Preserve visual content when scaling images

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn how to use Content-Aware Scale in Photoshop to resize images while protecting important details and proportions.

Select Select > All.

Note

Perform this step only if you’re scaling a Background layer.

Select Edit > Content-Aware Scale.

In the Options bar, set any of the following:

Reference Point Location: Select a square to fix the scaling point (default is center).
Use Relative Positioning for Reference Point: Reposition the point relative to its current placement.
Reference Point Position: Enter exact X and Y pixel values for the reference point.
Scaling Percentage: Define width (W) and height (H) percentages. Select Maintain Aspect Ratio to keep proportions.
Amount: Control the ratio of content-aware scaling to normal scaling.
Protect: Select an alpha channel to protect an area.
Protect Skin Tones: Preserve regions with skin tones.

Drag a handle on the bounding box to scale the image. Hold Shift while dragging a corner handle to scale proportionately.

Select Commit Transform to apply or Cancel Transform to discard.

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Specify content to protect when scaling

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