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How Do I Rotate Images in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Editing 2 mins read

Rotating images in Photoshop is easy and can be done in several ways, depending on whether you want to rotate the entire image or just a selection within it.

Rotating the Entire Image

To rotate the entire image (the document), follow these steps:

  1. Go to the "Image" Menu: Locate the "Image" menu at the top of your Photoshop interface.
  2. Select "Rotate Canvas": Within the "Image" menu, you'll find options for rotating the canvas. You can choose to rotate it by 90° clockwise or counterclockwise, 180°, or even flip it horizontally or vertically. Keyboard shortcuts are often available for quicker rotation.

Rotating a Selection or Layer

If you only need to rotate part of your image (a layer or selection), use the Free Transform tool:

  1. Select the Layer or Area: Choose the layer you want to rotate using the Layers panel. If you want to rotate a specific area, make a selection using the selection tools (Marquee, Lasso, etc.).
  2. Activate Free Transform: Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool. You’ll see bounding boxes around your selection or layer.
  3. Rotate: Hover your cursor over a corner handle until you see a curved arrow. Click and drag to rotate. You can also enter precise rotation angles by right-clicking within the selection and choosing a specific angle.

Additional Tips and Methods

  • Rotate Tool (R): The Rotate tool (shortcut: R) allows for quick visual rotation of the entire canvas or a selected area. Press and hold the Rotate tool and drag to rotate freely. This is especially useful for quick adjustments.
  • Camera Raw: If you're working with a raw image file, the Camera Raw filter offers rotation options (keyboard shortcuts L and R are mentioned as being useful).
  • Batch Rotation: For efficiently rotating multiple images, consider exploring Photoshop's batch processing capabilities or using third-party plugins designed for automating tasks.

The provided YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lekVmNawVuQ) also demonstrates some of these methods. Remember to save your work frequently!

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