You use transform controls in Photoshop primarily via the Free Transform tool, allowing you to resize, rotate, skew, distort, and apply perspective to layers or selections.
Here's a breakdown of how to effectively utilize transform controls:
1. Accessing Free Transform
- Keyboard Shortcut: The quickest way to activate Free Transform is by pressing Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (Mac).
- Menu Option: Alternatively, you can find it under Edit > Free Transform in the Photoshop menu.
2. Applying Transformations
Once Free Transform is active, a bounding box with handles will appear around your selected layer or area.
- Resizing: Drag the corner handles to resize the image proportionally. Hold down Shift while dragging a corner handle to maintain the aspect ratio.
- Rotating: Move your cursor just outside a corner handle. The cursor will change to a curved arrow. Drag to rotate the selection.
- Scaling: Drag a side handle to scale the image non-proportionally.
- Skewing: Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and drag a side handle to skew the image.
- Distorting: Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and drag a corner handle to distort the image.
- Perspective: Hold down Ctrl + Shift (Windows) or Command + Shift (Mac) and drag a corner handle to apply perspective.
3. Transform Options Bar
The options bar at the top of the screen provides additional controls:
- Reference Point: Changes the point around which transformations are applied. By default, it's the center. You can click on any of the squares in the reference point locator to move the reference point.
- X and Y Coordinates: Allows you to precisely position the selection by entering numerical values.
- Width (W) and Height (H): Scales the selection by percentage or specific units. You can link these values to maintain aspect ratio.
- Rotation (angle): Rotates the selection by entering a numerical value in degrees.
- Skew (H and V): Allows you to skew the selection horizontally and vertically by entering numerical values.
- Warp: Offers a mesh-like grid for more complex distortions. You can choose preset warp styles from the dropdown menu or customize the warp by dragging the control points.
4. Committing or Canceling Transformations
- Commit: To apply the transformation, press Enter or click the checkmark in the options bar.
- Cancel: To discard the transformation, press Esc or click the cancel icon (a circle with a line through it) in the options bar.
5. Right-Click Menu (Contextual Options)
Right-clicking inside the transform bounding box provides a contextual menu with even more options, including:
- Scale
- Rotate
- Skew
- Distort
- Perspective
- Warp
- Rotate 180°
- Rotate 90° CW (Clockwise)
- Rotate 90° CCW (Counter-Clockwise)
- Flip Horizontal
- Flip Vertical
Example Use Case: Correcting Perspective
- Select the layer containing the element you want to adjust.
- Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (Mac) to activate Free Transform.
- Right-click inside the bounding box and select Perspective.
- Drag a corner handle to adjust the perspective.
- Press Enter to commit the changes.
By mastering the Free Transform tool and its controls, you can significantly enhance your ability to manipulate images and create visually compelling designs in Photoshop.
