How to Edit Canvas Size in Photoshop

Editing the canvas size in Photoshop allows you to increase or decrease the overall working area of your image, adding or removing space around your existing content. This is different from resizing the image itself. There are several ways to achieve this:

Method 1: Using the Image > Canvas Size Menu

1. Open your image in Photoshop.
2. Go to the Image menu in the top menu bar.
3. Select Canvas Size.
4. A dialog box will appear. Here you can specify the new dimensions of your canvas by entering values for Width and Height. You can also choose the units (pixels, inches, centimeters, etc.).
5. Importantly, you can control where the added canvas space appears. The Anchor options let you position the added space relative to your existing image (e.g., adding space to the top, bottom, left, or right).
6. Click OK to apply the changes.

Method 2: Using the Crop Tool

1. Select the Crop Tool (C).
2. Click and drag the bounding box handles outside the existing image to expand the canvas size. You can also manually enter dimensions in the Options bar.
3. Press Enter or Return to apply the changes. This method is particularly useful for quickly expanding the canvas.

Method 3: Direct Manipulation with the Selection and Move Tool

1. Select the Move Tool (V).
2. Click the canvas size label or border to select the entire canvas.
3. Click and drag the border handles to resize the canvas directly. This provides a visual, dynamic approach to adjusting the canvas size.

Method 4: Using the Properties Panel (for some operations)

After using the methods above, you can refine your canvas size using the Properties panel. This panel will display the current width and height, allowing you to directly enter precise values for a more controlled resize. Refer to Adobe's documentation for the most up-to-date details on the Properties panel's capabilities.

Important Considerations:

• Adding to the canvas size increases the overall document size; it doesn't change the size of your image content.
• Reducing the canvas size might crop portions of your image, so proceed with caution. Always save a copy before making significant changes.

By utilizing these methods, you can efficiently manage your canvas size in Photoshop to suit your creative needs. Remember to always save your work frequently to prevent accidental data loss.