Tips & Tricks

Layer transformation in Adobe Photoshop Elements

• Moving a layer in Adobe Photoshop Elements

  To move the layer or its fragment you can use the Move tool from the Toolbar.

  Follow the instruction:

  • Step 1. If you want to move a fragment of the layer, not the layer itself, you can use any selection tool to select a fragment of the image.
  • Step 2. Select the Move tool from the Toolbar.
  • Step 3. Bring the cursor inside the selection to move the fragment or to any point of the layer to move the layer itself.
  • Step 4. To drag the layer or its fragment - press the left mouse button and, keeping it pressed, move the mouse cursor.

• Transforming a layer in Adobe Photoshop Elements

  Under transformation we imply the following actions:

  • scaling;
  • rotation and flipping;
  • skew;
  • deformation;
  • perspective correction.

  All these transformations can be applied to the whole layer or to any selected fragment of the layer. To select a fragment of the layer you can use any selection tool.

  To scale the layer or its fragment you can use the Scale tool from the menu Image - Resize.
  Having selected this command, you will see a frame with eight markers around the layer or its fragment. To scale the layer (its fragment) you should drag one of the rectangular markers.
  To scale it proportionally you should drag the corner marker keeping the SHIFT-key pressed.
  Besides, you can set values for width (W) and height (H) directly in the Options palette, in per cent from the original size. For the dimensions to change proportionally, activate the linking icon between the parameters W and H.

  To rotate or flip the layer or its fragment you can use the following commands from the submenu Image - Rotate:

  • Layer/Selection 90° Left - to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise.
  • Layer/Selection 90° Right - to rotate it 90 degrees anticlockwise.
  • Layer/Selection 180° - to rotate it on 180 degrees.
  • Flip Layer/Selection Horizontal - to mirror it horizontally as to the standing axis.
  • Flip Layer/Selection Vertical - to mirror it vertically as to the horizontal axis.
  • Free Rotate Layer/Selection - to rotate it as you wish. Having selected this command, you will see a frame with eight markers around the layer or the selected fragment. To rotate the layer (fragment) you should bring the cursor to any marker, so that it transforms into a rounded two-sides arrow, and press the left mouse button, and keeping it pressed, drag the cursor.

  In order to skew, distort, or correct perspective, use the following commands of the submenu Image - Transform:

  • Skew - to skew the image. Having selected this command from the submenu, you will see a frame with eight markers around the layer (its fragment). To skew the layer (fragment) you should drag the side, upper or lower marker keeping the CTRL-key pressed.
  • Distort - to distort the image. Having selected this command from the submenu, you will see a frame with eight markers around the layer (its fragment). To distort the image you should drag one of the corner markers keeping the CTRL-key pressed.
  • Perspective - to correct the perspective. Having selected this command from the submenu, you will see a frame with eight markers around the layer (its fragment). To create a perspective you should drag one of the corner markers keeping the keys CTRL and SHIFT pressed. If you need to move two point synchronously, drag the corner marker keeping the keys CTRL, ALT and SHIFT pressed.

  Besides, you can use the command Free Transform from the submenu Image - Transform to make all transformations in one step.