To display your image with square pixels (1:1 aspect ratio) in Photoshop, go to View > Pixel Aspect Ratio > Square. This adjusts the display so that the image is shown with square pixels, preventing it from appearing stretched or distorted. For permanently changing pixel aspect ratio, see the steps below.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Understanding Pixel Aspect Ratio
Pixel aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the width to the height of a single pixel. Non-square pixels are often used in video formats (like DV or anamorphic widescreen) to compress more information into a given frame size. Photoshop defaults to displaying images with square pixels (1:1 aspect ratio), meaning each pixel is the same width and height. However, when working with video or images designed for different displays, you might need to adjust this.
Steps to Display Square Pixels:
- Open your image in Photoshop.
- Navigate to the View Menu: In the top menu bar, click on "View".
- Select Pixel Aspect Ratio: Hover your mouse over "Pixel Aspect Ratio".
- Choose "Square": A submenu will appear. Select "Square." This forces Photoshop to display the image as if each pixel is square, regardless of the underlying pixel aspect ratio settings.
Important Notes:
- This setting only affects how the image appears in Photoshop. It doesn't permanently change the image's actual pixel dimensions or data. The underlying data remains the same.
- If your goal is to permanently change the pixel aspect ratio and alter the actual dimensions of the image, you will need to use the Image Size dialog box (Image > Image Size). However, simply changing the Image Size will not necessarily force square pixels; it will just resize the image. If the image was designed for non-square pixels, resizing it to certain dimensions will likely introduce distortion. It is important to understand the source material and intended output format.
Permanently Adjusting for Square Pixels (If Necessary):
If you need to permanently convert an image with non-square pixels to square pixels, the process is more involved and depends on the original intent and format. Generally, you would:
- Determine the original pixel aspect ratio of the source material.
- Use the Image Size dialog box (Image > Image Size) and potentially adjust the width and height based on the original aspect ratio to achieve the desired look and remove any distortion caused by non-square pixels.
