To move and resize only the selection outline in Photoshop, use the Transform Selection feature. This will allow you to alter the selected area without directly affecting the image content within that selection.
Steps to Move and Resize a Selection Outline:
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Make Your Initial Selection: Use any of Photoshop's selection tools (e.g., Rectangular Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand) to create your initial selection.
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Access Transform Selection: There are two main ways to access the Transform Selection feature:
- Via the Select Menu: Go to the Select menu at the top of the Photoshop window, and choose Transform Selection.
- Via Right-Click: Right-click inside the selection outline. A context menu will appear; select Transform Selection from the menu.
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Transform the Selection Outline: Once Transform Selection is active, a bounding box with handles will appear around your selection. You can now:
- Move: Click and drag inside the bounding box to move the entire selection outline.
- Resize: Click and drag the handles (the small squares) on the corners or sides of the bounding box to resize the selection. Holding down the Shift key while dragging a corner handle will maintain the aspect ratio of the selection.
- Rotate: Move your cursor slightly outside the bounding box corners until it changes into a curved arrow. Click and drag to rotate the selection.
- Skew/Distort: Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS) while dragging a corner handle to skew or distort the selection.
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Commit the Transformation: When you're satisfied with the changes, press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to commit the transformation. Alternatively, you can click the checkmark icon in the options bar at the top of the screen. To cancel the transformation, press Esc or click the cancel icon (the circle with a line through it) in the options bar.
Important Considerations:
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Transform Selection only affects the selection outline, not the image content. After transforming the selection, any subsequent actions (like filling, deleting, or applying a filter) will only affect the newly defined selected area.
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If you want to move and resize the image content within the selection, use the standard Transform command (Edit > Transform).
By using "Transform Selection" you can precisely modify the boundaries of your selections for detailed edits in Photoshop.
