To change shape measurements in Photoshop, you'll primarily be working with vector shapes, which allows for precise adjustments. Here's how to do it, covering different aspects of shape measurement and manipulation:
1. Understanding Shape Properties
Photoshop shapes are vector-based, meaning they are defined by mathematical equations rather than pixels. This allows you to resize and transform them without losing quality. Key properties you might want to adjust include:
- Width and Height: The overall dimensions of the shape.
- Position: The shape's location on the canvas (X and Y coordinates).
- Rotation: The shape's angle of rotation.
- Fill: The color inside the shape.
- Stroke: The border around the shape (color, thickness, and style).
2. Using the Properties Panel
The most straightforward way to change shape measurements is through the Properties Panel.
- Select the Shape: Use the Path Selection Tool (A) or Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the shape you want to modify. The Path Selection Tool selects the entire shape layer, while the Direct Selection Tool allows you to select and manipulate individual anchor points.
- Open the Properties Panel: Go to Window > Properties. If the shape layer is selected, the Properties panel will display its attributes.
- Adjust Measurements: In the Properties panel, you can directly change the width (W), height (H), X and Y coordinates (position), rotation angle, fill color, stroke color, stroke weight, and more. You can also use the "W:" and "H:" fields to constrain proportions while resizing.
3. Using the Transform Tool (Free Transform)
The Free Transform command provides another powerful way to change shape measurements:
- Select the Shape Layer: In the Layers panel, select the shape layer you want to transform.
- Activate Free Transform: Go to Edit > Free Transform (or press Ctrl+T / Cmd+T).
- Transform the Shape: A bounding box will appear around the shape. You can:
- Resize: Drag the corner handles to resize the shape. Hold Shift to constrain proportions.
- Rotate: Move your cursor outside the bounding box corners to rotate.
- Skew/Distort: Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and drag a corner handle to skew or distort the shape.
- Commit Changes: Press Enter (Return) or click the checkmark in the options bar to apply the transformation.
4. Modifying Anchor Points (Advanced)
For more precise control over the shape, you can directly manipulate its anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool:
- Select the Direct Selection Tool (A): This tool allows you to select individual anchor points on the shape.
- Select Anchor Points: Click on an anchor point to select it. You can select multiple anchor points by holding Shift while clicking.
- Move Anchor Points: Drag the selected anchor points to change the shape. You can also use the arrow keys for fine adjustments.
- Adjust Bezier Handles: When an anchor point is selected, you may see Bezier handles extending from it. These handles control the curve of the shape between anchor points. Drag the handles to adjust the curvature.
5. Setting Measurement Scale (For Documents with Real-World Dimensions)
If you're working on a document where pixel dimensions need to correspond to real-world measurements (e.g., inches, centimeters), you need to set the measurement scale:
- Open the Document.
- Go to Image > Analysis > Set Measurement Scale > Custom.
- Enter the Logical Length and Logical Units: Specify the real-world length that corresponds to a certain number of pixels. For example, you might enter "1" for Logical Length and "inch" for Logical Units if you want 1 inch to equal a certain number of pixels. You'll also see the corresponding "Pixel Length," which represents the number of pixels that equal the specified logical length.
- Click OK: This sets the measurement scale for the document. Now, when you use the rulers or measurement tools, Photoshop will display values in the specified units.
Example: Changing the Width of a Rectangle
Let's say you have a rectangle shape and want to change its width to 500 pixels:
- Select the rectangle shape layer.
- Open the Properties panel (Window > Properties).
- In the "W" field (width), enter "500px" (or just "500" if your default units are pixels).
- Press Enter to apply the change.
