Easily change your view orientation in Photoshop using the Rotate View tool to find the perfect angle for editing.
Rotating Your Canvas View in Photoshop
If you need to temporarily change the viewing angle of your image canvas without actually altering the image data, Photoshop provides a dedicated tool for this purpose. This is particularly useful for painting or drawing at different angles, or simply getting a better perspective on your work.
The process is simple and involves accessing a specific tool hidden within the Hand tool group.
Steps to Rotate the Canvas View
Based on the reference provided, here's how you can rotate the canvas view:
- Locate the Hand Tool: Find the Hand tool in the Photoshop toolbar (its shortcut key is H).
- Access the Rotate View Tool: Click and hold the Hand tool icon. This will reveal a flyout menu containing other tools grouped with the Hand tool. Select the Rotate View tool (R) from this menu.
- Rotate the Canvas: Once the Rotate View tool is active, drag the tool anywhere on the canvas itself. As you drag, the canvas will rotate, allowing you to change its orientation and achieve the desired position.
- Use the On-Screen Widget: As you rotate the canvas view, a widget appears on the canvas. You can use this widget to see the current rotation angle or to quickly navigate between different angles by clicking or dragging on it.
This method changes only the perspective you see, not the actual image pixels or dimensions. To reset the view to its default (0 degrees), you can double-click the Rotate View tool icon in the toolbar or use the 'Reset View' option in the Options bar at the top.
This technique is ideal for improving ergonomics when working with a drawing tablet or for gaining a different perspective while painting or retouching.
