Resizing a layer in Photoshop by dragging is straightforward. After selecting the layer in the Layers panel, you initiate the Free Transform mode. This allows you to resize the layer by dragging its bounding box handles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Resizing a Layer via Dragging
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Select Your Layer: First, locate and select the layer you wish to resize within the Layers panel, typically found on the right-hand side of the Photoshop interface.
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Activate Free Transform: Choose Edit > Free Transform from the menu bar at the top of the screen. Alternatively, press
Ctrl+T(Windows) orCmd+T(macOS). A bounding box will appear around your selected layer, displaying resize handles on each corner and side. -
Resize by Dragging: Grab a corner handle (for proportional resizing, maintaining aspect ratio) or a side handle (for non-proportional resizing) and drag it to adjust the layer's size to your desired dimensions. Holding down the Shift key while dragging a corner handle ensures proportional scaling, preventing distortion.
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Confirm Changes: Once you’ve achieved the desired size, press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to confirm the transformation.
Important Considerations
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Proportional vs. Non-Proportional Resizing: Dragging corner handles resizes proportionally by default (maintaining the aspect ratio), while dragging side handles allows for independent resizing of width and height. Remember the Shift key for guaranteed proportional scaling.
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Smart Objects: Resizing smart objects offers non-destructive editing, allowing you to easily revert or re-edit the transformation later without impacting image quality.
Additional Tips
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For more precise control, you can enter numerical values for width and height in the options bar at the top of the screen after initiating Free Transform.
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If you need to resize multiple layers at once, select them all in the Layers panel before initiating Free Transform.
