You can resize a video layer in Photoshop using the Transform tool within the Timeline panel. Here's how:
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Open the Timeline Panel: Go to Window > Timeline.
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Select the Video Layer: In the Layers panel, select the video layer you want to resize. This will also highlight the corresponding layer bar in the Timeline panel.
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Access Free Transform: Choose Edit > Free Transform. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (Mac). This places a bounding box with handles around your video in the canvas.
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Resize the Video:
- Proportionally: Hold down the Shift key while dragging a corner handle to maintain the video's aspect ratio. This prevents distortion.
- Freely: Drag any handle without holding Shift to freely resize the video, potentially distorting its proportions.
- Center Point: By default, the transform origin is at the center. You can move this origin point by dragging the target icon in the center of the transform box. This changes the point around which scaling and rotation occur.
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Commit the Transformation: Once you are satisfied with the size and position, press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac) to apply the transformation. You can also click the checkmark icon in the options bar.
Important Considerations:
- Rasterization: Resizing video layers significantly, especially enlarging them, can lead to pixelation because Photoshop ultimately rasterizes the video frames.
- Original Footage: Consider resizing in a video editing program first if possible, to maintain the highest possible quality. Photoshop is better suited for simple adjustments.
- Smart Objects: If you initially imported the video as a Smart Object, you can double-click the layer thumbnail to open it in a separate window. Edits made there will be reflected in the main Photoshop document, potentially preserving more quality during resizing (depending on the original format).
- Timeline Duration vs. Video Size: Adjusting the size using the Transform tool is different from changing the duration of the video layer in the timeline. To change the length of the video that plays, hover over the edges of the layer rectangle in the timeline and drag.
