To rotate an image in Photoshop using a shortcut, you'll primarily use the Free Transform tool. Here's how:
Using the Free Transform Shortcut
The main method for rotating an image layer quickly involves accessing the Free Transform tool via a keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Press Ctrl+T.
- Mac: Press Command+T.
This will activate the Free Transform bounding box around your selected layer.
Steps for Rotating
- Select the Layer: Make sure the layer you want to rotate is selected in the Layers panel.
- Activate Free Transform: Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool. You’ll see a bounding box with handles appear around the layer.
- Rotate:
- Move your cursor just outside one of the bounding box's corner handles. The cursor will change to a curved double-headed arrow.
- Click and drag to rotate the layer to the desired angle. You can hold Shift while dragging to rotate in 15-degree increments.
- Confirm: Press Enter to apply the rotation.
Alternative Method
You can also access Free Transform by right-clicking on the layer in the Layers panel and choosing "Free Transform" from the drop-down menu, but using the keyboard shortcut is more efficient.
Additional Rotation Techniques
While Free Transform provides the quickest way to rotate, Photoshop also offers a few extra rotation options:
- Image Rotation: If you want to rotate the entire canvas and not just a specific layer, go to Image > Image Rotation.
- Rotation via Properties Panel: The Properties panel (if it’s open) can offer numeric input for rotation, which can be useful for very precise rotation values.
- Transform Panel: You can use the Transform panel (Window > Transform) to enter specific rotation values and get precise results.
| Function | Shortcut/Method |
|---|---|
| Access Free Transform (Windows) | Ctrl + T |
| Access Free Transform (Mac) | Command + T |
| Rotate | Click and drag corner handles on Free Transform box |
