5 Drag the side handles to extend the cropping bounds while preserving the perspective.

Important: Do not move the center point of the cropping marquee. Photoshop needs to know the original center point of the image in order to perform perspective correction.

6 Do one of the following:

•Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS); click the Commit button in the options bar; or double-click inside the cropping marquee.

•To cancel the cropping operation, press Esc or click the Cancel button in the options bar.

If Photoshop displays an error, it is probably due to improper placement of the corner handles or center point. Click Cancel to go back and adjust the cropping marquee;

click Don’t Crop to cancel the cropping operation. An error may also occur if you’re working with a previously cropped image.

Transforming objects in two dimensions

You can scale, rotate, skew, distort, and apply perspective to entire layers, selected parts of layers, masks, paths, shapes, selection borders, and channels.

Note: Pixels are added or deleted during transformations. To calculate the color values of these pixels, Photoshop and ImageReady use the interpolation method selected in the General section of the Preferences dialog box. This option directly affects the speed and quality of the transformation. Bicubic interpolation, the default, is slowest but yields the best results. (See “Choosing an interpolation method” on page 66.)

Specifying what to transform

You can apply transformations to a selection, an entire layer, multiple layers, or a layer mask. In Photoshop, you can also apply transformations to a path, a vector shape, a vector mask, a selection border, or an alpha channel.

Note: You cannot apply transformations to16 bit-per-channel images. You can, however, apply full canvas transformations to 16-bit images using the options in the Image menu. (See “Rotating and flipping entire images” on page 177.)

To specify what to transform:

Do one of the following:

• To transform an entire layer, make the layer active, and make sure nothing is selected.

Important: You cannot transform the background layer. However, you can convert a background layer to a regular layer. (See “Adding layers and layer sets” on page 286.)

•To transform part of a layer, select the layer, and then select part of the image on that layer.

•To transform multiple layers, link the layers together in the Layers palette. (See “Linking layers” on page 289.)

•To transform a layer mask or a vector mask, unlink the mask, and select the mask thumbnail in the Layers palette. (See “Masking layers” on page 314.)

•(Photoshop) 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 “Selecting paths (Photoshop)” on page 211.)

•(Photoshop) To transform a selection border, make or load a selection. Then choose Select > Transform Selection.

•(Photoshop) To transform an alpha channel, select the channel in the Channels palette. (See “Storing masks in alpha channels” on page 280.)

Setting the reference point

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.

To set the reference point for a transformation:

1Select a transformation command, as described in the following topics. A bounding box appears in the image.

2In the options bar, click a square on the reference point locator . Each square represents a point on the bounding box. For example, to set the reference point to the top left corner of the bounding box, click the top left square on the reference point locator.

To move the center point for the transformation:

1Select a transformation command, as described in the following topics. A bounding box appears in the image.

2Drag the center point. The center point can be outside the item you want to transform.

Applying transformations

The commands under the Transform submenu let you apply the following transformations to an item:

•Scaling enlarges or reduces an item relative to its reference point. You can scale horizontally, vertically, or both horizontally and vertically.

•Rotating 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.

•Skewing lets you slant an item vertically and horizontally.

•Distorting lets you stretch an item in all directions.

•Applying perspective lets you apply one-point perspective to an item.

In Photoshop, you can perform several commands in succession before applying the cumulative transformation. For example, you can choose Scale, drag a handle to scale, and then choose Distort, drag a handle to distort, and press Enter or Return to apply both transformations. In ImageReady, you can perform multiple types of transformations at the same time using the Transform > Numeric command.

To scale, rotate, skew, distort, or apply perspective:

1Select what you want to transform. (See “Specifying what to transform” on page 181.)

2Choose Edit > Transform > Scale, Rotate, Skew, Distort, or Perspective.

Note: (Photoshop) 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.

3In the options bar, click a square on the reference point locator . (See “Setting the reference point” on page 182.)

4Do one or more of the following:

•If you chose Scale, drag a handle on the bounding box. Press Shift as you drag a corner handle to scale proportionately. When positioned over a handle, the pointer becomes a double arrow.

•If you chose Rotate, move the pointer outside of 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.

•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.

5 If desired, switch to a different type of transformation by selecting a command from the Edit > Transform submenu.

When transforming a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), it 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.

6 When you’re satisfied with the results, do one of the following:

•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.

To flip or rotate precisely:

1Select what you want to transform. (See “Specifying what to transform” on page 181.)

2Choose Edit > Transform and choose one of the following commands from the submenu:

•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: (Photoshop) 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.

To repeat a transformation:

Choose Edit > Transform > Again, Edit > Transform Path > Again, or Edit > Transform Points > Again.

To duplicate an item when transforming it:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) when selecting the Transform command.

To apply multiple types of transformations at the same time (ImageReady):

1Select what you want to transform. (See “Specifying what to transform” on page 181.)

2Choose Edit > Transform > Numeric.

3Do one or more of the following, and click OK:

•Select Position and enter values for the new location in the X (horizontal position) and Y (vertical position) text boxes. Select Relative to specify the new position in relation to the current position.

•Select Scale. Enter the dimensions in the W and H text boxes, or enter a scaling percentage in the Scale text box. Select Constrain Proportions to maintain the aspect ratio.

•Select Skew and enter degrees in the H (horizontal skew) and V (vertical skew) text boxes.

•Select Rotate. Enter degrees of rotation in the Angle text box, or drag the in the circle to the right of the text box.

Using the Free Transform command

The Free Transform command lets you apply transformations (rotate, scale, skew, distort, and perspective) in one continuous operation. Instead of choosing different commands, you simply hold down a key on your keyboard to switch between transformation types.

To freely transform:

1Select what you want to transform. (See “Specifying what to transform” on page 181.)

2Do one of the following:

• Choose Edit > Free Transform.

Note: (Photoshop) 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.

•If you are transforming a selection, pixel-based layer, or selection border, choose the move tool . Then select Show Bounding Box in the options bar.

•If you are transforming a vector shape or path, select the path selection tool . Then select Show Bounding Box in the options bar.

3 Do one or more of the following:

•To scale by dragging, drag a handle. Press Shift as you drag a corner handle to scale proportionately.

•To scale numerically, enter percentages in the W and H text boxes in the options bar. In Photoshop, click the link button to maintain the aspect ratio.

•To rotate by dragging, move the pointer outside of the bounding border (it becomes a curved, two-sided arrow ), and then drag. Press Shift to constrain the rotation to 15° increments.

•To rotate numerically, enter degrees in the rotation text box in the options bar.

•To distort relative to the center point of the bounding border, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and drag a handle .

•To distort freely, press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS), and drag a handle.

•To skew, press Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Command+Shift (Mac OS), and drag a side handle. When positioned over a side handle, the pointer becomes a white arrowhead with a small double arrow .

•To skew numerically, enter degrees in the H (horizontal skew) and V (vertical skew) text boxes in the options bar.

•To apply perspective, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS), and drag a corner handle. When positioned over a corner handle, the pointer becomes a gray arrowhead .

•To change the reference point, click a square on the reference point locator in the options bar. (See “Setting the reference point” on page 182.)

•To move an item, enter values for the new location of the reference in the X (horizontal position) and Y (vertical position) text boxes in the options bar. In Photoshop, click the

Relative Positioning button to specify the new position in relation to the current position.

To undo the last handle adjustment, choose Edit > Undo.

4 Do one of the following:

•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.

When transforming a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), it 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.