To change the width and height of the background in Photoshop, you'll adjust the canvas size, not the "background" layer directly. Here's how:
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Go to Image > Canvas Size: On the menu bar at the top of your screen, click on the "Image" menu, then select "Canvas Size." This will open the Canvas Size dialog box.
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Enter New Dimensions: In the Canvas Size dialog box, you'll see fields for "Width" and "Height." Enter the desired new dimensions for your background.
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Choose Canvas Extension Color (Optional): At the bottom of the Canvas Size box, you might see "Canvas extension color." This setting determines the color of the newly added area if you're making the canvas larger. If your background is a solid color, selecting that color here will seamlessly extend it. You can choose "Background" which will use the current background color set in your toolbar.
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Specify Anchor Point (Optional): The Anchor section allows you to define from which direction the new space will be added. The default (center) will extend the image equally on all sides, effectively centering the existing content.
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Click OK: Once you've entered your desired width and height and configured the extension color and anchor point (if needed), click "OK". Photoshop will resize the canvas accordingly.
Important Considerations:
- Making the Canvas Smaller: If you reduce the canvas size, any part of your image extending beyond the new boundaries will be cropped. Photoshop will warn you about this.
- Background Layer: Remember that the background layer might be locked. If it is, you may want to convert it to a regular layer (double-click the background layer in the layers panel and rename it) before resizing the canvas. This will allow you to move and resize the contents independently.
- Image Size vs. Canvas Size: Be careful not to confuse "Canvas Size" with "Image Size." "Image Size" will actually resample the pixels in your image, potentially affecting the image quality, whereas "Canvas Size" simply changes the boundaries of the workspace.
- Using the Crop Tool: You can also use the Crop Tool (C) to resize the canvas. Simply drag the crop boundaries beyond the existing image area to increase the canvas size. Press Enter to confirm the changes.
By following these steps, you can easily adjust the width and height of your Photoshop background.
