Using Photoshop Free Transform Command

The Free Transform command lets you apply transformations (move, rotate, scale, skew, distort, perspective and wrap) in one continuous operation. Instead of choosing different commands, you simply hold down a key on your keyboard to switch between transformation types.

Note: If you are transforming a shape or entire path, the Transform command becomes the Transform Path command. If you are transforming multiple path segments (but not the entire path), the Transform command becomes the Transform Points command.

Please note that when transforming a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), it becomes slightly less sharp each time you commit a transformation. Therefore, performing multiple commands before applying the cumulative transformation is preferable to applying each transformation separately.

You can also set interpolation method for Free Transform command by using menu Edit » Preference » General for Windows or Photoshop » Preference » General for MacOS at Image Interpolation drop-down box (see also Photoshop Image size for Interpolation method in detail).

If you’re in a hurry you can check out Free Transform Command: Quick Reference table below in thi s page. Or jump directly to operation you need to perform using links in list below.

Move

Rotate

Scale

Skew

Distort

Perspective

Wrap

Free Transform Command

You can start Free Transform command by using menu Edit » Free Transform or while Move Tool select press Ctrl(Command) + T. When you start Free Transform the selected area or entire layer (if no selection) will surrounded by bounding box with several handle at corner (A) and center of each side (B) and also reference point (C). You can move handle by dragging mouse or combine dragging with keyboard key to perform transformation.

• To Undo the last action, use menu Edit » Undo or Ctrl(Command) + Z.
• To apply Transformation Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS), click the Apply button in the options bar, or Double-click inside the transformation marquee.
• To cancel the transformation, press Esc or click the Cancel button in the options bar.

• A. Corner Handle: Use this handle to Scale (both horizontal and vertical), Distort or perspective
• B. Side Handle: Use this handle to Scale horizontal, Scale vertical, Flip and Skew
• C. Reference point : So call Transformation Origin, by default the origin is located in the center of the layer or selection. You can move it to define the center point of transformation. See rotate section for more detailed example.
• D. Rotate Area: When you move cursor anywhere outside bounding box (yellow area), your cursor will turn to . It’s indicate that you can drag mouse to begin rotation.

Move

You can move transforming object by move cursor in side bounding box, you cursor will change to indicate that you ready to perform move operation. You can also move object by enter numeric value at option bar (see numerical transformation below in this page for more detail).

• X: horizontal position
• Y: vertical position
• Relative Position Button : Click to toggle relative position On or Off, to specify the new position in relation to the current position.

Rotate

To rotate by dragging, position the pointer outside of the bounding border (D), it becomes a curved, two-sided arrow , and then drag. Press Shift to constrain the rotation to 15° increments. To rotate numerically, enter degrees in the rotation text box in the options bar.

You can move Reference point (C) to control the center of rotation as in example below. To specified reference point for numeric rotation use Reference point locator at option bar (see numerical transformation below in this page for more detail).

• A. Reference Point at center of bounding box (default).
• B. Reference Point at top left of bounding box.

Flip

You can flip the image by dragging one handle (both Corner handle(A) and side handle (B)) past its opposite handle. For example, dragging the right side handle past the left side handle flips the image horizontally as shown below.

You can also perform uniform flip by, while perform Free Transform command, Right click (Windows) or Control + Click (MacOS) with in working area to bring pop-up menu and select Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical. You can also access several command thought this menu.

Rotate Pop-Up Menu Command

• Rotate 180: To rotate image up side down.
• Rotate 90 CW: To rotate image on its side Clock-wise (CW)
• Rotate 90 CCW: To rotate image on its side Counter Clock-wise (CCW)

Scale

You can use both conner handle (A) and side handle (B) to perform scaling. When you move mouse to corner handle your cursor will turn to indicate that you can perform scaling both horizontally and vertically. You can use conner handle with following key in order to perform scaling.

Shift: To proportionally scale the selection in direction you drag. Shift + Alt: To proportionately scale from reference point in every directions.

When you move mouse to vertical Side handle (B) your cursor will turn to indicate that you can perform scaling horizontally. And use horizontal side handle to perform vertical scaling, you cursor will turn to .You can use side handle with Alt key to scale vertically and horizontally from reference point in both directions.

You can also scale object by enter numeric value in scale section at the option bar while performing Free Transform. You can also specify reference point using Reference point locator (see numerical transformation below in this page for more detail).

• W: scale for width in %
• H: scale for height in %
• Constrain Proportion Button : Use this link button to toggle proportional scaling On oe Off. Toggle it On to constrain the W and H values and resize the selection or layer proportionally.

Distort and Perspective

You can use Corner handle (A) to perform distortion by hold-down Ctrl(Command) key while dragging the handle. While holding down Ctrl key your cursor will turning to indicate that you are performing distortion. You can use Ctrl key with following key to perform following action

• Ctrl + Shift: to move handle in 45° increment direction.
• Ctrl + Alt: to move selected handle and its opposite relative to reference point.

• Ctrl + Shift +Alt: to perform 2 points perspective Free Transform.

Skew

Use Side handle (B) to perform skew. You can use Side handle (B) to perform skew by hold-down Ctrl(Command) key while dragging the handle. While holding down Ctrl key over Side handle (B) your cursor will turning to indicate that you are performing skew. You can use Ctrl key with following key to perform following action.

• Ctrl + Shift: to move handle in 45° increment direction. Your cursor will turn to or while holding combination of this keys.
• Ctrl + Alt: to move selected handle and its opposite relative to reference point.
• Ctrl + Shift + Alt: to move selected handle and its opposite relative to reference point in 45° increment direction. Your cursor will turn to or while holding combination of this keys.

Wrap (Photoshop CS2)

The Warp command lets you drag control points to manipulate the shape of images, shapes, or paths, and so on. You can also warp using a shape in the Warp Style pop-up menu in the options bar. Shapes in the Warp Style pop-up menu are also editable by drag their control points.

You can access Wrap command while in Free Transform command by using Toggle Warp Button at Option bar or Right Click (Control + Click) and select Wrap in pop-up menu. And also acces Wrap Command directly by using menu Edit » Transform » Warp. When using the control points to distort an item, choosing View » Extras to shows or hides the warp mesh and control points.

• Reference point locator : To change the reference point.
• Warp Orientation button : To change the orientation of the warp.
• Bend (Set Bend): To specify the amount of warp using numeric values
• X: To set horizontal distortion
• Y: To set vertical distortion

Note: You can’t enter numeric values if you have chosen None or Custom from the Warp Style pop-up menu.

To warp an item, dragging a control point to warp the mesh.

• To adjusting a curve on bounding box edges, use the conner handle (A) or control point handles (B). This is similar to adjusting the handles in the curved segment of a vector graphic.
• To the manipulate the shape, drag the control points (C), a segment of the bounding box or mesh, or an area within the mesh.
• To undo the last handle adjustment, choose Edit » Undo or Ctrl + Z.

At PlanetPhotoshop.com, there’re cool video tutorial that use Wrap command to create spray effect. You can check it out here.

Numerical transformations

To track your transformations numerically, display the Info palette (F8) before you apply the Free Transform command or ,while you’re in Free Transform command, you can access the Info palette by choosing Window » Info (See Using Info Palette for more detail) . You can also track the numerical equivalents of your transformations in the Options bar, which appears as soon as you enter Free Transform. You can making major changes or minor tweaks to make sure that an exact size or specific angle is achieved.

• Reference Point Locator : Click to reposition the transformation origin.
• X and Y: Enter new values to change the location of the origin numerically.
• Relative Position Button : Click this triangular delta symbol to measure the movement relative to the transformation origin.
• W and H: Enter new values to scale the selection or layer. The value are in % (100% is not change)
• Constrain Proportion Button : Click this link button to constrain the W and H values and resize the selection or layer proportionally.
• Rotation : To enter the angle value rotates from the point specify in Reference Point Locator .
• Skew : Enter the H and V values skew.
• Toggle Wrap : To switch between Free Transform and Wrap command.

Free Transform Command Short-Cut: Quick Reference

This table will show combination of the key to quickly operate Free Transform operation

Note: for MacOS user use Option key instead of Alt and Command key for Ctrl.

Corner Handle (A)
Drag	Scale
Shift + Drag	Scale with Fix proportion
Alt + Drag	Scale relative to the reference point(C)
Shift + Alt + Drag	Scale with Fix proportion and relative to the reference point(C)
Ctrl + Drag	Distort
Ctrl + Shift + Drag	Distort with 45° increment
Ctrl + Alt + Drag	Distort corner handle and it opposite
Ctrl + Shift + Alt	Perspective
Side Handle (B)
Drag	Scale or
Alt + Drag	Scale relative to reference point (C) or
Ctrl + Drag	Skew
Ctrl + Shift + Drag	Skew with 45° increment or
Ctrl + Alt + Drag	Skew relative to the reference point(C)
Ctrl + Shift + Alt	Skew with 45° increment relative to the reference point(C) or

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